engraving
Americannoun
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the act or art of a person who or thing that engraves.
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the art of forming designs by cutting, corrosion by acids, a photographic process, etc., on the surface of a metal plate, block of wood, or the like, for or as for the purpose of taking off impressions or prints of the design so formed.
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the design engraved.
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an engraved plate or block.
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an impression or print from this.
noun
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the art of a person who engraves
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a block, plate, or other surface that has been engraved
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a print made from such a surface
Etymology
Origin of engraving
Explanation
Engraving is the art or technique of carving designs into a surface. You'll find engraving on stationary, wedding rings, and even on tombstones. Some engraving results in an etched object, like a piece of jewelry or silverware. Other engraving is done on a metal plate, which is then used to print an illustration, design, or even paper money. You can call the design or resulting print an engraving as well. The word, from the verb engrave, combines the prefix en-, "in or into," and the now-obsolete grave, "to carve."
Vocabulary lists containing engraving
The Renaissance and Early Modern European History - Introductory
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Art History
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The Renaissance and Early Modern European History - Middle School and High School
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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.
Kane said he and Agostini plan to take their soggy money to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington to redeem it.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 4, 2024
“Kendrick we need ya, the West Coast savior / Engraving your name in some hip-hop history,” raps the artificially generated voice of Shakur.
From Salon • May 7, 2024
According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, 1914 was the first year that the Treasury secretary and the treasurer started signing the currency together.
From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2021
President Abraham Lincoln on the five-dollar bill currency are seen at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015.
From Reuters • Sep. 23, 2021
At first, the team had only what was called the Cowdray Engraving to give them any kind of guidance at all.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
