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

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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

Alcantara is etched in as a large part of that future, the top pitching prospect in the system and the jewel right-handed pitcher acquired in a flurry of winter trades that wiped the roster and purged the Marlins outfield. — Matthew Defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Marlins' future on display as Sandy Alcantara, Lewis Brinson lead Miami past Mets," 30 June 2018 Drivers' faces are sculpted on the side, and their names and winning year are etched in the trophy. — John Tuohy, Indianapolis Star, "BorgWarner builds new HQ, brings 300 jobs to Noblesville," 14 June 2018 Those words are etched in stone at his grave in Arlington National Cemetery. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: RFK’s speech in apartheid South Africa remains relevant 50 years after his assassination," 5 June 2018 Whiskeytown Falls, Shasta County: A trail is etched into rock alongside 220-foot Whiskeytown, which curves down a canyon in a series of levels. — Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, "Northern California’s 12 splashiest waterfalls," 17 May 2018 Each is etched with the names of victims and their home counties. — Steven Litt, cleveland.com, "MASS design for new MLK branch, rejecting idea of apartments overhead, is best of 3 proposals (commentary)," 14 May 2018 Her years-long recovery is etched in her memory, down to the smell and taste of the operating-room anesthesia and the stinging schoolyard taunts over her disfigurement. — Kristin E. Holmes, Philly.com, "An absent mother, a badly burned daughter, and a bond forged in a Germantown house fire," 12 May 2018 But the names of Triple Crown winners are etched into history and never forgotten. — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "How many horses have won the Triple Crown? A history of the honor," 1 May 2018 The lines on her face are etched with a deliberateness that matches her unyielding disposition. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "My disastrous tea with Glenda Jackson," 26 Apr. 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.