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

Beginning in the late 1990s, Berkeley Lab researchers at the CXRO pioneered techniques to replace visible light with higher energy extreme ultraviolet light for lithography. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026

Despite the new lithography boosting each of the M6 GPU's 12 cores, 12 of them still can't compete with a 20-core M5 Pro graphics unit for 3D rendering. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Fabrication of advanced artificial intelligence chips and high bandwidth memory requires continuous, high-volume flows of ultra-high purity gases, such as nitrogen, argon, and helium, for lithography, chemical vapor deposition, and wafer purging. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Compared to older deep ultraviolet lithography, EUV technology harnesses a more powerful source of light with a shorter wavelength to create even smaller features on silicon wafers. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 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