Library / English Dictionary

ETCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Selectively dissolve the surface of (a semiconductor or printed circuit) with a solvent, laser, or stream of electrons

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "etch" is one way to...):

dissolve (cause to fade away)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Carve or cut a design or letters into

Example:

engrave the pen with the owner's name

Synonyms:

engrave; etch

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "etch" is one way to...):

carve; chip at (engrave or cut by chipping away at a surface)

Verb group:

engrave; grave; inscribe; scratch (carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Carve or cut into a block used for printing or print from such a block

Example:

engrave a letter

Synonyms:

engrave; etch

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "etch" is one way to...):

print (make into a print)

Domain category:

art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "etch"):

benday (reproduce by the Benday process)

stipple (engrave by means of dots and flicks)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make an etching of

Example:

He etched her image into the surface

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "etch" is one way to...):

print (make into a print)

"Etch" entails doing...:

corrode; rust (become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid)

Domain category:

art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "etch"):

aquatint (etch in aquatint)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

etcher (someone who etches)

etching (making engraved or etched plates and printing designs from them)

etching (an etched plate made with the use of acid)

etching (an impression made from an etched plate)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Cause to stand out or be clearly defined or visible

Example:

the leafless branches etched against the sky

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "etch" is one way to...):

show (make visible or noticeable)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Credits