etch en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ɛt͡ʃ/
Etymology
From Dutch etsen (“to etch”), from German ätzen (“to etch”), from Old High German azzon (“to cause to bite or feed”), from Proto-Germanic *atjaną, causative of *etaną (“to eat”) (whence also English eat).
Meanings
- To cut into a surface with an acid or other corrosive substance in order to make a pattern. Best known as a technique for creating printing plates, but also used for decoration on metal, and, in modern industry, to make circuit boards.
- To engrave a surface.
-
(figuratively) To make a lasting impression.
His sorrow was etched on his face.
The memory of 9/11 is etched into my mind.
-
To sketch; to delineate.
There are many such empty terms to be found in some learned writers, to which they had recourse to etch out their system.
a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| etches | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| etching | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| etched | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| etched | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Deriveds
etchplanation · etchplain · overetch · etchable · total-etch · cryoetch · piranha etch · photoetch · microetch · etcher · self-etch · underetch
Relateds
Translations (45)
fi kaivertaa (to engrave) · de beizen (to engrave) · uk травити (to engrave) · pl wytrawić (to engrave) · mk вреже (to make a lasting impression) · de ätzen (to engrave) · es grabar al aguafuerte (to engrave) · uk гравіювати (to engrave) · fr marquer (to make a lasting impression) · pl ryć (to make a lasting impression) · ru гравирова́ть (to engrave) · tr oymak (to engrave) · fr graver (to make a lasting impression) · ca gravar (to engrave) · ko 새기다 (to engrave) · hu gravíroz (to engrave) · da indgravere (to engrave) · mk вреже (to engrave) · no radere (to engrave) · pl wyryć (to engrave) · de radieren (to engrave) · de einbrennen (to make a lasting impression) · pl wytrawiać (to engrave) · ru вы́гравировать (to engrave) · ru вытра́вливать (to engrave) · pt gravar (to engrave) · ca gravar (to make a lasting impression) · es aguaforzar (to engrave) · da gøre indtryk (to make a lasting impression) · pl wyryć (to make a lasting impression) · nl etsen (to engrave) · uk витравлювати (to engrave) · hu marat (to engrave) · es grabar (to engrave) · ru вы́травить (to engrave) · fr graver (to engrave) · fi syöpyä mieleen (to make a lasting impression) · es grabar (to make a lasting impression) · ru трави́ть (to engrave) · bg гравирам (to engrave) · it incidere all'acquaforte (to engrave) · de einprägen (to make a lasting impression) · pl ryć (to engrave) · fi etsata (to engrave) · pt marcar (to make a lasting impression)