etch

verb \ ˈech \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of etch

1 a : to produce (something, such as a pattern or design) on a hard material by eating into the material's surface (as by acid or laser beam)

b : to subject to such etching

2 : to delineate or impress clearly

scenes etched in our minds

pain was etched on his features

intransitive verb

: to practice etching

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etcher

noun

See etch defined for English-language learners

See etch defined for kids

Examples of etch in a Sentence

etched an identification number on the back of the television
glass that has been etched with an identification number

Recent Examples of etch from the Web

The few words spoken by Hec in the film are augmented by actor Sam Neill’s exquisitely etched facial expressions.

— stacy murison, The Christian Science Monitor, "What are you watching? Readers recommend 'Mozart in the Jungle,' 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople,' 'Frasier'," 30 Mar. 2018
Before long, proof of their service would be etched into bronze and granite in Washington, D.C.

— jonathan glover, The Seattle Times, "Trail of ashes: A Spokane man’s work to restore identity to the unclaimed dead," 29 Mar. 2018
And whereas early x-ray ghost images were simple pictures of slits cut into metal, the Chinese group produced outlines of a seashell and of initials etched into metal plates.

— sophia chen, Science | AAAS, "X-ray ‘ghost images’ could cut radiation doses," 28 Mar. 2018
Still, his professional future remains etched somewhere in the back of his mind.

— peter dawson, star-telegram, "UTA's NBA hopeful focused on one thing for now: going dancing | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 8 Mar. 2018
Coordinates, dates, names or initials can be stamped or etched on discs or lockets.

— sarah cody, courant.com, "Jewelry’s Enduring Romance," 7 Feb. 2018
The bowties are cut from 4-5 millimeter slats of wood which are then etched on a laser cutter with various patterns including stripes, circles, tiny bourbon barrels, Fleur De Lis, plaid patterns and more.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "Want a unique, polished bow tie look without fiddling with a knot? Try a wooden one," 25 Jan. 2018
Lines aren’t firmly etched in every actor’s brain — Williams particularly fumbles and mumbles hers — thus elongating an already lengthy play.

— christine dolen, miamiherald, "‘Sassy Mamas’ pursue younger guys in attempt to flip the script | Miami Herald," 22 Jan. 2018
Damon just signed up to have his name etched on a silicon chip on NASA’s InSight lander that’s scheduled to reach Mars a year from now.

— gogo lidz, Newsweek, "NASA and 'The Martian': It Was Written in the Stars," 20 Sep. 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'etch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of etch

Dutch etsen, from German ätzen to etch, corrode, from Old High German azzen to feed; akin to Old High German ezzan to eat — more at eat

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1634

See Words from the same year

etch Synonyms

Synonyms

brand, engrave, impress, imprint, infix, ingrain (also engrain);

Near Antonyms

blot out, erase, expunge, obliterate;

fix, set, stamp;

etch

noun

Definition of etch

1 : the action or effect of etching a surface

2 : a chemical agent used in etching

Recent Examples of etch from the Web

From the clearing where we’d laid out our tents and camp pads, the opposite bank of the river was barely perceptible except for a faint Etch-a-Sketch panorama of sandstone buttes and towers.

— jim buchta, chicagotribune.com, "Call of the Colorado River leads to a family pilgrimage," 11 Aug. 2017