lithography

noun

li·​thog·​ra·​phy li-ˈthä-grə-fē 

1

: the process of printing from a plane surface (such as a smooth stone or metal plate) on which the image to be printed is ink-receptive and the blank area ink-repellent

2

: the process of producing patterns on semiconductor crystals for use as integrated circuits

Examples of lithography in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There is no local alternative to ASML for EUV, and globally, very few options to replace DUV lithography machines. —Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026

However, previous rounds of export controls allowed sales of older, lower-grade machines that perform deep ultraviolet immersion lithography (DUV), which are capable of manufacturing very advanced — but not the most advanced — chips. —Jared Perlo, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026

That’s not even considering the single Dutch company that makes the high-tech lithography machines used to print virtually all AI chips, or the German company that makes the mirrors used in those machines. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026

During Saturday’s livestream, Musk said the Austin fab will house equipment for logic semiconductors, memory chips, packaging, testing, and lithography mask production in a single building. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

litho- + -graphy, after French lithographie or German Lithographie (now Lithografie)

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lithography

• arthrography
• biography
• cartography
• cosmography
• cryptography
• demography
• discography
• echography
• ethnography
• filmography
• geography
• hydrography

Kids Definition

lithography

noun

li·​thog·​ra·​phy lith-ˈäg-rə-fē 

: a method of printing from a flat surface (as a smooth stone or metal plate) that has been prepared in such a way that only the areas meant to print will take ink