halftone

noun

half·​tone ˈhaf-ˌtōn 

ˈhäf-

1

: half step sense 2

2

a

: any of the shades of gray between the darkest and the lightest parts of a photographic image

b(1)

: a photoengraving made from an image photographed through a screen and then etched so that the details of the image are reproduced in dots

(2)

: an image (such as one printed on an offset press or laser printer) that renders smooth variations of color in an original by means of dots assigned to areas of the image electronically

halftone adjective

Examples of halftone in a Sentence

using software to lighten the picture's halftones

Recent Examples on the Web

The photos are four-color halftones enlarged to varying degrees, so the dots that make up the images are more prominent in some than others. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023

The next book of the five hundred might be a halftone different. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022

Recently, the hypnotic halftone designs have taken on new meaning in a digital age. —Leah Dolan, CNN, 26 May 2022

There were huge features screened across it in dull black halftone, asymmetrical eyes at breast height, a grim mouth at crotch-level. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2017

Technologies used to put out the paper also are highlighted, such as printing presses, halftone plates and stereotypes. —Susan Dunne, courant.com, 31 July 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

halftone

noun

half·​tone ˈhaf-ˌtōn 

ˈhäf-

: a medium tint or tone in a painting, engraving, or photograph