ink en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- [ˈɛ̃ŋk] æ-raising
- [ˈeɪ̯ŋk] æ-raising
- /ˈɛ̃ŋk/ æ-raising
- [ˈɪŋk]
- /ˈeɪ̯ŋk/ æ-raising
- [ˈæŋk] without æ-raising
- [ˈiŋk] Upper Midwestern US, Western US, Canada
- /ˈæŋk/ without æ-raising
- /ˈɪŋk/
- /ˈiŋk/ Upper Midwestern US, Western US, Canada
- audio
Etymology
From Middle English ynke, from Old French enque, from Latin encaustum (“purple ink used by Roman emperors to sign documents”), from Ancient Greek ἔγκαυστον (énkauston, “burned-in”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + καίω (kaíō, “burn”). In this sense, displaced native Old English blæc (“ink”, literally “black”). Sense four refers to the ink used in newspapers.
Meanings
-
(uncountable, usually) A pigment (or dye)-based fluid used for writing, printing etc.
Both halves feature lyrics that are so teen-girly they sound like they were written in pink ink in a padlocked diary with hearts and frowny faces for punctuation.
2016 March 24, Darryl Sterdan, “ZAYN’s ‘Mind of Mine’ and Gwen Stefani’s ‘This is What the Truth Feels Like’ top this week’s new music”, in The Toronto Star, archived from the original on 17 Jun 2018:This form should be filled out in ink.
While I was waiting for him in the Matted Gallery, a young man was most finely working in Indian inke the great picture of the King and Queen sitting [Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France], by Van Dyke [Anthony van Dyck]; and did it very finely.
1667 May 5 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “April 26th, 1667”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume VI, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1895, →OCLC, page 285:
- (countable, usually) A particular type, color or container of this fluid.
-
(uncountable, usually) The black or dark-colored fluid ejected by squid, octopus etc, as a protective strategy.
Experimentally, some ink has been shown to be unpalatable to fish (Wood et al. 2010) and observationally, ink can also function as an attractant to predators to give cephalopods a bit more time to escape.
2017 August 9, Mark Carnall, “Why do cephalopods produce ink? And what's ink made of, anyway?”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 Mar 2023:
-
(slang, uncountable, usually) Publicity.
to get ink
The TSA has been getting a lot of ink lately.
[Judith] Hope […] has been getting ink by the barrelful with her regular interviews quoting conversations with the first lady, on subjects ranging from Senate ambitions to summer and post-White House living arrangements.
1999 June 4, Washington Post:
-
(slang, uncountable, usually) Tattoo work.
Now he's getting a tattoo / Yeah, he's getting ink done / He asked for a 13, / But they drew a 31
1998, “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”, performed by The Offspring:"I saw it hanging on the wall of a tattoo hut where I went to get some ink done ten years ago," he stuttered, flushing in splotches and squirming in his chair.
1998, Richard Dooling, Brain Storm:
- (slang, uncountable, usually) Cheap red wine.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| inks | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| inke | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
green-ink brigade · inkmaker · ink eradicator · inkblot · green-ink letter · inkstandish · octopus ink · inkless · inkmaking · inkbush · ink-pad · overink · inkshed · inkstone · invisible ink · inkspot · ink syringe · ink converter · ink-pot · printing ink · spill ink · inklike · bleed red ink · ink tag · pen-and-ink money · inkproof · before the ink had time to dry · ink-cap · e-ink · ink pot · inken · inkpot · inkholder · Indian ink · ink-block · ink cartridge · ink isn't dry on · inkstain · China ink · ink in · digital ink · sympathetic ink · gall-nut ink · ink slinger · inker · inkable · ink disease · inkwood · the ink was not even dry · reink · ink pad · inkcap · green ink brigade · bioink · inkbrush · ink-dot · inkstand · inkfish · deink · ink pen · before the ink was dry · inkball · gay as pink ink · black as ink · red ink · ink trap · inkwriter · squid ink · ink sac · you don't dip your pen in company ink · inkjet · inkstick · inkish · pen and ink · inkdot · sling ink · inky · inkberry · ink monitor · inkwell · ink eraser · inkprint · ink-well · ink dot · secret ink · ink bottle · ink-jet printer · inkslinger · you don't dip your pen in the company's ink · India ink · don't dip your pen in company ink · iron-gall ink · inkline · ink well · ink jet · ink ball · inkhorn · ink up · printer's ink · ink fountain · inkwork · ink bomb
Descendants
Synonyms
plug · paint · hoopla · spotlight · flak · ballyhoo · hype
Translations (226)
sh màstilo (coloured fluid used for writing) · bo སྣག་ཚ (coloured fluid used for writing) · su mangsi (coloured fluid used for writing) · fur ingjustri (coloured fluid used for writing) · mg ranomainty (coloured fluid used for writing) · sh ма̀стило (coloured fluid used for writing) · oc tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · kn ಶಾಯಿ (coloured fluid used for writing) · jv ꦩꦁꦱꦶ (coloured fluid used for writing) · udi танакӏ (coloured fluid used for writing) · tk syýa (coloured fluid used for writing) · ky сыя (coloured fluid used for writing) · hu tinta (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · lt rašalas (coloured fluid used for writing) · gv doo (coloured fluid used for writing) · af ink (coloured fluid used for writing) · sk atrament (coloured fluid used for writing) · syc ܕ݁ܝܘܿܬ݂ܵܐ (coloured fluid used for writing) · nn blekk (coloured fluid used for writing) · nb blekk (coloured fluid used for writing) · de Tinte (coloured fluid used for writing) · pl tusz (coloured fluid used for writing) · ja インキ (coloured fluid used for writing) · pt tinta (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · crh mürekep (coloured fluid used for writing) · lij tenta (coloured fluid used for writing) · eu tinta (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · ps ورېغ (coloured fluid used for writing) · am ቀለም (coloured fluid used for writing) · syc ܚܸܒ݂ܪܵܐ (coloured fluid used for writing) · sh tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · mi waituhi (coloured fluid used for writing) · mt linka (coloured fluid used for writing) · th หมึก (coloured fluid used for writing) · uz siyoh (coloured fluid used for writing) · fr encre (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · ota مركب (coloured fluid used for writing) · sga dub (coloured fluid used for writing) · bg масти́ло (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · gl borra (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · hrx Tint (coloured fluid used for writing) · si තීන්ත (coloured fluid used for writing) · cy inc (coloured fluid used for writing) · sc tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · nn blekk (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · sw wino (coloured fluid used for writing) · nb blekk (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · min dawat (coloured fluid used for writing) · srn enki (coloured fluid used for writing) · id tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · fa-ira جُوْهَر (coloured fluid used for writing) · ug سىياھ (coloured fluid used for writing) · chr ᎦᏁᎯ ᏗᎨᏪᎶᏗ (coloured fluid used for writing) · mn бэх (coloured fluid used for writing) · ga dúch (coloured fluid used for writing) · acw حبر (coloured fluid used for writing) · or କାଳି (coloured fluid used for writing) · ha tawada (coloured fluid used for writing) · tg сиёҳӣ (coloured fluid used for writing) · ta மை (coloured fluid used for writing) · fi muste (coloured fluid used for writing) · haw wai ʻeleʻele (coloured fluid used for writing) · bg масти́ло (coloured fluid used for writing) · is blek (coloured fluid used for writing) · ur سِیاہی (coloured fluid used for writing) · bn কালি (coloured fluid used for writing) · te సిరా (coloured fluid used for writing) · mwl tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · alt чернила (coloured fluid used for writing) · wym inkaojst (coloured fluid used for writing) · mrw daoat (coloured fluid used for writing) · ia tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · hu tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · mr शाई (coloured fluid used for writing) · scn nchiostru (coloured fluid used for writing) · vi mực (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · kl pilikki (coloured fluid used for writing) · tmr דְּיוּתָא (coloured fluid used for writing) · grc μέλαν (coloured fluid used for writing) · syc ܡܹܠܵܢܝܼܢ (coloured fluid used for writing) · nl inkt (coloured fluid used for writing) · vo nig (coloured fluid used for writing) · lv tinte (coloured fluid used for writing) · uk туш (coloured fluid used for writing) · dlm inghiastro (coloured fluid used for writing) · za raemxmaeg (coloured fluid used for writing) · vi mực (coloured fluid used for writing) · sl tinta (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · arz حبر (coloured fluid used for writing) · es tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · hni meiqsyu (coloured fluid used for writing) · ru черни́ла (coloured fluid used for writing) · ms dakwat (coloured fluid used for writing) · ko 잉크 (coloured fluid used for writing) · pms inciòstr (coloured fluid used for writing) · gl tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · as চিয়াঁহী (coloured fluid used for writing) · so tawaad (coloured fluid used for writing) · liv tint (coloured fluid used for writing) · aa midad (coloured fluid used for writing) · mnc ᠪᡝᡥᡝ (coloured fluid used for writing) · myz ࡃࡉࡅࡕࡀ (coloured fluid used for writing) · cmn 烏賊墨汁 /乌贼墨汁 (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · got 𐍃𐍅𐌰𐍂𐍄𐌹𐌶𐌻 (coloured fluid used for writing) · ca tinta (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · ml മഷി (coloured fluid used for writing) · zdj wino (coloured fluid used for writing) · it inchiostro (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · mn ᠪᠡᠬᠡ (coloured fluid used for writing) · fa-ira سِیاهی (coloured fluid used for writing) · sa मसी (coloured fluid used for writing) · cs inkoust (coloured fluid used for writing) · sl tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · be чарні́ла (coloured fluid used for writing) · ig ehicha (coloured fluid used for writing) · grc ὀλός (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · mdh dauat (coloured fluid used for writing) · pdt Tint (coloured fluid used for writing) · ccp 𑄇𑄣𑄨 (coloured fluid used for writing) · be туш (coloured fluid used for writing) · ko 먹물 (coloured fluid used for writing) · lb Tënt (coloured fluid used for writing) · ny inki (coloured fluid used for writing) · ps سياهي (coloured fluid used for writing) · el μελάνι (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · lt tušas (coloured fluid used for writing) · alt бойу (coloured fluid used for writing) · pl inkaust (coloured fluid used for writing) · bho स्याही (coloured fluid used for writing) · km ទឹកខ្មៅ (coloured fluid used for writing) · ka მელანი (coloured fluid used for writing) · ang blæc (coloured fluid used for writing) · cmn 墨魚汁 /墨鱼汁 (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · ary مداد (coloured fluid used for writing) · prs سِیَاهِی (coloured fluid used for writing) · sat ᱥᱤᱭᱟᱦᱤ (coloured fluid used for writing) · lo ຫມຶກ (coloured fluid used for writing) · et tint (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · nds Black (coloured fluid used for writing) · bo ཕྱག་སྣག (coloured fluid used for writing) · ru черни́ла (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · ckb مەرەکەب (coloured fluid used for writing) · ca tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · tt сыя (coloured fluid used for writing) · co inchjostru (coloured fluid used for writing) · gd inc (coloured fluid used for writing) · gd dubh (coloured fluid used for writing) · luy luwino (coloured fluid used for writing) · sq bojë (coloured fluid used for writing) · sv bläck (coloured fluid used for writing) · ms tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · pt tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · sv bläck (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · yue 墨魚汁 /墨鱼汁 (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · mk мастило (coloured fluid used for writing) · mi waingārahu (coloured fluid used for writing) · ro cerneală (coloured fluid used for writing) · kk сия (coloured fluid used for writing) · eo inko (coloured fluid used for writing) · da sværte (coloured fluid used for writing) · kum шакъы (coloured fluid used for writing) · cmn 墨 (coloured fluid used for writing) · mk мастило (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · hy թանաք (coloured fluid used for writing) · sw wino (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · an tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · ee inki (coloured fluid used for writing) · rhg hali (coloured fluid used for writing) · zlw-ocs črnidlo (coloured fluid used for writing) · so khad (coloured fluid used for writing) · th น้ำหมึก (coloured fluid used for writing) · et tint (coloured fluid used for writing) · ja 墨 (coloured fluid used for writing) · ja インク (coloured fluid used for writing) · fo blekk (coloured fluid used for writing) · he דְּיוֹ (coloured fluid used for writing) · uk чорни́ло (coloured fluid used for writing) · la ātrāmentum (coloured fluid used for writing) · yi טינט (coloured fluid used for writing) · izh cernila (coloured fluid used for writing) · az mürəkkəb (coloured fluid used for writing) · da blæk (coloured fluid used for writing) · prs جَوْهَر (coloured fluid used for writing) · tsg dawat (coloured fluid used for writing) · ne मसी (coloured fluid used for writing) · prs مُرَکَّب (coloured fluid used for writing) · khb ᦓᧄᧉᦔᦲᧉ (coloured fluid used for writing) · fr encre (coloured fluid used for writing) · lmo tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · es tinta (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · gl tinta (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · mtq mâc (coloured fluid used for writing) · grc μελάνιον (coloured fluid used for writing) · sd مَسُ (coloured fluid used for writing) · tl tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · nl inkt (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · rgn inciòstar (coloured fluid used for writing) · enm ynke (coloured fluid used for writing) · io inko (coloured fluid used for writing) · fi muste (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · mi māmangu (coloured fluid used for writing) · uk атра́мент (coloured fluid used for writing) · sl črnilo (coloured fluid used for writing) · khb ᦓᧄᧉᦵᦖᦲᧅ (dark fluid ejected by squid etc) · sm vaitusi (coloured fluid used for writing) · nv bee akʼeʼelchíhí tóhígíí (coloured fluid used for writing) · tyz sloăc (coloured fluid used for writing) · ota سواد (coloured fluid used for writing) · nrf encre (coloured fluid used for writing) · ar حِبْر (coloured fluid used for writing) · tr mürekkep (coloured fluid used for writing) · hi स्याही (coloured fluid used for writing) · pl atrament (coloured fluid used for writing) · ms mangsi (coloured fluid used for writing) · cmn 墨水 (coloured fluid used for writing) · gu શાહી (coloured fluid used for writing) · syl ꠇꠣꠟꠤ (coloured fluid used for writing) · ast tinta (coloured fluid used for writing) · el μελάνι (coloured fluid used for writing) · ssy midad (coloured fluid used for writing) · it inchiostro (coloured fluid used for writing) · wa intche (coloured fluid used for writing) · fa-ira مُرَکَّب (coloured fluid used for writing) · my မင် (coloured fluid used for writing) · ar مِدَاد (coloured fluid used for writing) · eu tinta (coloured fluid used for writing)