etching

noun

etch·​ing ˈe-chiŋ 

1

a

: the action or process of etching

b

: the art of producing pictures or designs by printing from an etched metal plate

2

a

: an etched design

b

: an impression from an etched plate

Examples of etching in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The etchings also numerically related all these cycles to one another in a single mathematical formula—next to the author’s signature. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 July 2026

For a break from the sand, take an easy hike to the White Mountain Petroglyphs, one of Wyoming’s premier rock art sites touting ancient etchings carved anywhere from 200 to 1,000 years ago. — Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026

Certain photos of those rehearsal dinner attendees showed guests clutching black velvet boxes with an etching of two Ts and a heart. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

That’s not unlike classical diffraction gratings, whose periodic etchings split light into different colors and directions. — IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing etching

• freeze-etching

Rhymes for etching

• fetching
• retching
• sketching
• stretching

Kids Definition

etching

noun

etch·​ing ˈech-iŋ 

1

a

: the act or process of etching a hard material

b

: the art of printing from an etched metal plate

2

a

: a product of etching

b

: a print made from an etched metal plate