3D printing

American  

[three-dee prin-ting] / ˈθriˈdi ˈprɪn tɪŋ /

Or 3-D printing

noun

Computers.

1. a printing process that involves making three-dimensional objects from digital models by applying many thin layers of quick-drying material on top of each other.

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Etymology

Origin of 3D printing

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

3D printing

At Whiteley, which has been running since 1760, 3D printing has also revitalised the business after a change of ownership in 2024.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Advances in 3D printing have made the conversion devices widely available and cheap to produce.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

It also opens the door to new ways of controlling liquids in applications ranging from hydraulics and 3D printing to blood flow in the body.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 30, 2026

Mike Griffin, who founded a sustainable 3D printing company with the help of Innovate UK, agreed.

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2026

We also went to the computer lab, where we learned about 3D printing, including that the queen’s costume in the movie Black Panther was mostly 3D printed!

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas