mezzotint

noun mez·zo·tint \ ˈmet-sō-ˌtint , ˈmed-zō- \

Definition of mezzotint

1 : a manner of engraving on copper or steel by scraping or burnishing a roughened surface to produce light and shade

2 : an engraving produced by mezzotint

Recent Examples of mezzotint from the Web

Though the heart of her work — graphite and charcoal drawings, mezzotint and woodcut prints, paintings — is often described as dark, it has always been backlighted, in a sense, by California sun.

— randy kennedy, New York Times, "The Artist Vija Celmins Conjures Sea and Sky With a Brush," 9 Feb. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of mezzotint

modification of Italian mezzatinta, from mezza (feminine of mezzo) + tinta tint

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1800

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Learn More about mezzotint

See words that rhyme with mezzotint Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mezzotint

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