emboss
Americanverb (used with object)
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embosses,
present (3rd person singular)
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embossed,
past participle, past
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embossing
present participle
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to raise or represent (surface designs) in relief.
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to decorate (a surface) with raised ornament.
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Metalworking. to raise a design on (a blank) with dies of similar pattern, one the negative of the other.
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to cause to bulge out; make protuberant.
verb
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to mould or carve (a decoration or design) on (a surface) so that it is raised above the surface in low relief
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to cause to bulge; make protrude
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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embosssimple
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embossessimple
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have embossedperfect
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has embossedperfect
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am embossingprogressive
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are embossingprogressive
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is embossingprogressive
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have been embossingperfect progressive
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has been embossingperfect progressive
Past
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embossedsimple
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had embossedperfect
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was embossingprogressive
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were embossingprogressive
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had been embossingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of emboss
1350–1400; Middle English embosen < Middle French embocer, equivalent to em- em- 1 + boce boss 2
Explanation
Emboss means to carve with a design. A silver tray might be embossed with your initials and wedding date. You might give your teacher a plaque with "World's Best Teacher" embossed under their name. Embossing and engraving have similar effects––a raised surface. But embossing pushes the paper or metal up, working from behind, while engraving actually cuts into the surface, cutting away a bit of the media as it makes its mark.
Vocabulary lists containing emboss
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The coin, designed by east London artist and LGBTQ+ activist Dominique Holmes, uses state-of-the-art printing technology to emboss it with the colours of the Pride progress flag.
From Reuters ● May 18, 2022
Initially a contract manufacturer of shoe parts, Tyca got into the denim game to fulfill a request from Levi’s, using the same machinery to emboss the Levi’s name into thousands of back pockets.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2021
It happens on the third day, after our bookbinding class, having spent the morning deep in concentration learning how to Coptic-stitch and emboss our own leather journal.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 28, 2019
In the real world, opportunities for selling and recruiting dry up very quickly, no matter how many inspirational seminars you attend and business cards you emboss.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2016
They live indeed on the third floor; but here they have suites of wonderful painted and gilded chambers, in which foreshortened frescoes also cover the vaulted ceilings and florid mouldings emboss the ample walls.
From Italian Hours by Henry James
Coca-Cola takes that engraving process a step further with a machine that snaps a photo of the user, then embosses that picture onto the iconic red can of soda.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026
In his workshop, Demnig embosses the name and date of birth and circumstances of death by hand.
From Reuters ● May 5, 2023
Noel fixed up the living room with a desk where she keeps her paint and other materials; she embosses and paints aluminum from old beer cans, making sacred hearts, roses and other pop art.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 11, 2020
A record-holding winner of six Tony Awards, for both plays and musicals, Ms. McDonald embosses any production in which she appears with a good-value guarantee.
From New York Times ● Aug. 9, 2015
To celebrate the club's 80-year anniversary, the shirt comes with a subtle anniversary logo embossed across the chest.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
Up front, a fierce rictus of sterling-bright, illuminated vertical bars is capped with a chrome plate embossed with the word “Maybach.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
“Come party with us tonight,” the women said, handing out embossed invitations to passing lawyers.
From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026
Officials at Sèvres - France's state-owned porcelain factory - also identified some of their items on online auction sites, including a plate embossed with an air force stamp and ashtrays.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
There’s an embossed photo of the falls, meant to hang over the stove railing decoratively.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
Their embossing reads: “Marty Supreme — Made in America.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025
On the holster, in blue embossing tape, was an American name and a Colorado address.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 17, 2023
They squat on the surface with embossing hammers, swiftly stamping the top of each cube, like xylophone players performing in a concert.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2023
There’s also a creamy French Country line with sweet embossing on the edges.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 19, 2023
The art of carving in low relief, embossing, etc.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Noah Webster
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
