etching Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an impression made from an etched plate
  2. noun an etched plate made with the use of acid
  3. noun making engraved or etched plates and printing designs from them
    engraving.
  4. verb make an etching of
    etch.
    • He etched her image into the surface
  5. verb cause to stand out or be clearly defined or visible
    etch.
    • a face etched with pain
    • the leafless branches etched against the sky
  6. verb carve or cut into a block used for printing or print from such a block
    etch; engrave.
    • engrave a letter
  7. verb carve or cut a design or letters into
    etch; engrave.
    • engrave the pen with the owner's name
  8. verb selectively dissolve the surface of (a semiconductor or printed circuit) with a solvent, laser, or stream of electrons
    etch.

WordNet

Etch"ing noun
Definitions
  1. The act, art, or practice of engraving by means of acid which eats away lines or surfaces left unprotected in metal, glass, or the like. See Etch, v. t.
  2. A design carried out by means of the above process; a pattern on metal, glass, etc., produced by etching.
  3. An impression on paper, parchment, or other material, taken in ink from an etched plate.

Webster 1913