etch

1 of 2

verb

ˈech 

etched; etching; etches

transitive verb

1

a

: to produce (something, such as a pattern or design) on a hard material by eating into the material's surface (as by acid or laser beam)

b

: to subject to such etching

2

: to delineate or impress clearly

scenes etched in our minds

pain was etched on his features

intransitive verb

: to practice etching

etcher noun

etch

2 of 2

noun

1

: the action or effect of etching a surface

2

: a chemical agent used in etching

Synonyms

Verb

• engrave
• grave
• incise
• inscribe
• insculp [archaic]

Examples of etch in a Sentence

Verb

etched an identification number on the back of the television

glass that has been etched with an identification number

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In Aghdam, across Nagorno-Karabakh, and in countless regions worldwide— where up to 110 million mines remain buried across 60 countries— the promise of renewal is etched into the soil, waiting to be healed. —Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Authorities found a note in Mangione’s possession at the time of his arrest, and messages related to the health insurance industry were etched on the shell casings discovered at the crime scene. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024

Noun

Meet the Experts Deb Paquette, chef/owner at etch and etc. —Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2024

Working with toolmakers, TSMC has used ever-smaller wavelengths to pattern and etch away silicon, shrinking the features left behind on its wafers. —IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Dutch etsen, from German ätzen to etch, corrode, from Old High German azzen to feed; akin to Old High German ezzan to eat — more at eat

First Known Use

Verb

1634, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

etch

verb

ˈech

1

a

: to produce (as a pattern or design) on a hard material by lines eaten into the material's surface (as by acid or laser beam)

b

: to produce a pattern or design on by such etching

etched glass

an etched silicon chip

2

: to outline or impress clearly

migrating ducks etched against the sky

etcher noun