etching

American  

[ech-ing] / ˈɛtʃ ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of making designs or pictures on a metal plate, glass, etc., by the corrosive action of an acid instead of by a burin.

2. an impression, as on paper, taken from an etched plate.

3. the design so produced.

4. a metal plate bearing such a design.

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etching British  

/ ˈɛtʃɪŋ /

noun

1. the art, act, or process of preparing etched surfaces or of printing designs from them

2. an etched plate

3. an impression made from an etched plate

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etching Cultural  

1. An artistic print made from a plate on which the artist has etched a design with acid. (Compare engraving.)

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Etymology

Origin of etching

First recorded in 1625–35; etch + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Until now, most MXenes have been produced using chemical etching, a process that leaves a mix of surface atoms such as oxygen, fluorine, or chlorine scattered randomly across the material.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

The venture would also presumably need equipment for etching and deposition, which are manufacturing and packaging processes.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

“By no means are we etching anything in stone, but putting a framework out there to guide the community,” said Jerry Chow, IBM’s chief technology officer of quantum-centric computing.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

The problem with etching patterns with atomically precise beams of light is that the material you shine it on also has to be atomically precise, or the pattern comes out blurry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

He’ll probably hide in the garden shed etching pictures on the soft wooden walls with sharp rocks.

From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani

Related Words

• engraving
• inscription
• reproduction