etching

noun etch·ing \ ˈe-chiŋ \

|Updated on: 5 Jun 2018

Definition of etching

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

See etching defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of etching from the Web

The sides of my white gold ring, like R2-D2, have etchings that mirror the droid's mechanical legs, and the top of the ring has a halo of sapphires around a diamond and a small ruby in the front that echoes R2-D2's blinking lights.

— vanessa armstrong, latimes.com, "How R2-D2 helped me find love," 25 May 2018
Previous inductees, meanwhile, will be enshrined with permanent black glass panels featuring names and band logos in gold etching, along with signatures.

— gary graff - special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: A multi-million-dollar gamble that has paid big dividends for Cleveland," 26 Mar. 2018
Parts of the wafer that are still covered in photoresist are protected during the etching, retaining their silicon oxide; those whose photoresist has been removed are etched away.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Extreme UV chip defects may force a new approach to processor design," 27 Feb. 2018
American Impressionism, the East Asia collection and the graphic prints — etchings, engravings and lithographs — are what most capture my fancy here.

— cynthia zanone, sandiegouniontribune.com, "5 reasons I love San Diego's Balboa Park," 13 May 2018
Over the years, artists began to use additional techniques to their reperatories, such as laminating, mosaic assemblage, grinding, casting, acid etching, engraving and plating to their repertory.

— george fishman, miamiherald, "This art speaks to the heart. Even when you can see through it. | Miami Herald," 8 May 2018
Some of those cross-sections are asymmetrical in a way that hints at a right-handed craftsman holding the etching tool.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "Neanderthals etched a message on this 36,000-year-old stone tool," 3 May 2018
At the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, check out the gallery dedicated to Old West artist Edward Borein, whose etchings, watercolors, and drawings honor the region’s traditional vaqueros. sbhistorical.org.

— Sunset, "Santa Barbara Guidebook: What to See & Do Now," 22 Jan. 2018
The etchings also overlap with each other, suggesting that they were not meant to take a census.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "This Could Be Neanderthal Art," 3 May 2018

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

First Known Use of etching

1634

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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ETCHING Defined for English Language Learners

etching

noun

Definition of etching for English Language Learners

: a picture made by putting ink on an etched piece of metal and then pressing paper against the metal

ETCHING Defined for Kids

etching

noun etch·ing \ ˈe-chiŋ \

Definition of etching for Students

1 : the art or process of producing drawings or pictures by printing from etched plates

2 : a picture made from an etched plate

Learn More about etching

See words that rhyme with etching Spanish Central: Translation of etching Nglish: Translation of etching for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of etching for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about etching

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etching

Definition of etching

Recent Examples of etching from the Web

First Known Use of etching

ETCHING Defined for English Language Learners

etching

Definition of etching for English Language Learners

ETCHING Defined for Kids

etching

Definition of etching for Students

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