etch

verb

\ ˈech

etched; etching; etches

Definition of etch

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

etch

noun

Definition of etch (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the action or effect of etching a surface

2 : a chemical agent used in etching

Other Words from etch Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about etch

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Synonyms for etch

Synonyms: Verb

engrave, grave, incise, inscribe, insculp [archaic]

Examples of etch in a Sentence

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

This means that—like the label of your favorite artisanal coffee bag—the diamond’s provenance will be listed directly next to the stone in stores, and a unique serial number, invisible to the naked eye, will be laser-etched on the gem’s surface. — Olivia Martin, Town & Country, "New Year, New Jewels: Tiffany & Co. Commits to Geographic Transparency for all its Diamonds," 9 Jan. 2019 The date code is laser-etched on top of the blade in the base in the format MM-YY. — Lindsey Murray, Good Housekeeping, "Why 100K Vitamix Blending Containers Have Been Recalled," 13 Aug. 2018 There’s also a case with chrome edges and a full-color version of the Miku design etched on the phone itself, along with a metal collector’s card with the serial number printed. — Sam Byford, The Verge, "Xiaomi releases elaborate Hatsune Miku edition Mi 6X," 3 July 2018 The dim lighting, gang graffiti etched on the walls and roaring sound of traffic may seem like an unappealing place to live to most, but many of those who sleep on the makeshift cardboard beds only want a place to stay, Hunter said. — Tony Briscoe, chicagotribune.com, "Advocates criticize plan to fence off Lower Wacker homeless encampment; city cites safety," 7 June 2018 Inside the monument, visitors will find marble tablets etched with the names of Cuyahoga County residents who served in the Union Army during the Civil War, 1,100 of whom died. — James F. Mccarty, cleveland.com, "Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument provides tours of tunnels with new guide," 16 Apr. 2018 The case only has minute numbers etched on the circumference of the display and two physical buttons on its right side; one opens the app drawer, while the other opens the workouts menu. — Valentina Palladino, Ars Technica, "Huawei Watch GT review: When hardware and software don’t mesh," 16 Dec. 2018 There are moments of brilliant soliloquy too, showcasing, among other things, Mr. Morris’s finely etched electric guitar lines and Mr. Haynes’s disarmingly direct trumpet tones. — Larry Blumenfeld, WSJ, "‘Igbó Alákorin (The Singer’s Grove), Vol. I & II’ by David Virelles and ‘Pillars’ by Tyshawn Sorey Reviews," 29 Oct. 2018 The memorial includes a fountain, flanked by two winged benches, that has the names of the Emanuel Nine etched onto it. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, "Charleston church memorial unveiled in honor of the Emanuel Nine and survivors," 16 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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

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.