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

Xi’s comments come as a chip war rages between China and Western countries, including the Netherlands, which is home to ASML — the world’s sole manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines needed to make advanced semiconductors. —Laura He, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024

The short wavelength of attosecond pulses, which is typically in the extreme-ultraviolet, or EUV, regime, may see applications in EUV lithography in the semiconductor industry. —Niranjan Shivaram, The Conversation, 4 Oct. 2023

These specialized lithography machines are required to create the world’s most advanced semiconductors produced by global chip manufacturers like TSMC and Intel. —Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 15 Feb. 2023

China’s top lithography system developer Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Group Co. still lags a few generations behind what industry leader ASML is capable of. —Cagan Koc, Fortune Asia, 8 Mar. 2024

The Netherlands has blocked chip-equipment manufacturer ASML’s exports to China of some lithography systems, which are essential to making advanced microprocessors, in a partial license revocation following U.S. export restrictions. —Sherry Qin, WSJ, 2 Jan. 2024

Nano-imprint lithography, which basically stamps a pattern into a semiconductor, is useful in creating very regular patterns quickly. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 June 2023

Meanwhile, there was also chatter of Chinese companies making progress on developing their own chip-making lithography machines. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

Intel will be the first to get hold of the next generation of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, a more advanced but still nascent technique for making more sophisticated chips, from the Dutch equipment maker ASML. —Will Knight, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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