etch
Americanverb (used with object)
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etches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
etched,
past participle, past
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etching
present participle
-
to cut, bite, or corrode with an acid or the like; engrave with an acid or the like, as to form a design in furrows that when charged with ink will give an impression on paper.
-
to produce (a design, image, etc.) by this method, as on copper or glass.
-
to outline clearly or sharply; delineate, as a person's features or character.
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to fix permanently in or implant firmly on the mind; root in the memory.
Our last conversation is etched in my memory.
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Geology. to cut (a feature) into the surface of the earth by means of erosion.
A deep canyon was etched into the land by the river's rushing waters.
verb (used without object)
-
etches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
etched,
past participle, past
-
etching
present participle
noun
verb
-
(tr) to wear away the surface of (a metal, glass, etc) by chemical action, esp the action of an acid
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to cut or corrode (a design, decoration, etc) on (a metal or other plate to be used for printing) by using the action of acid on parts not covered by wax or other acid-resistant coating
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(tr) to cut with or as if with a sharp implement
he etched his name on the table
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(tr; usually passive) to imprint vividly
the event was etched on her memory
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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etchsimple
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etchessimple
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have etchedperfect
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has etchedperfect
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am etchingprogressive
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are etchingprogressive
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is etchingprogressive
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have been etchingperfect progressive
-
has been etchingperfect progressive
Past
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etchedsimple
-
had etchedperfect
-
was etchingprogressive
-
were etchingprogressive
-
had been etchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of etch
1625–35; < Dutch etsen < German ätzen to etch, originally cause to eat; cognate with Old English ettan to graze; akin to eat
Explanation
If you etch something you are cutting into it. You can etch "I ♥ U" into a tree trunk with a pocket knife or etch your initials in your desk with a key (if the teacher's not looking). However and whatever you etch, it is generally considered a deep and lasting mark. The figurative use of etch is just as common as its literal sense. A particularly powerful memory, image or emotion is said to "etch itself" into your mind, meaning, like that piece of graffiti you etched into the tree trunk, it won't be likely to be erased anytime soon. Incise and carve are often interchangeable with etch.
Vocabulary lists containing etch
Holes
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The Poet X
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The Wild Robot
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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:
These systems can etch miniscule circuits onto silicon to create microchips that power AI as well as all sorts of everyday electronics.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Because of U.S. export curbs, China has access only to previous-generation deep-ultraviolet, or DUV, machines, which can’t etch with as much precision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
And even if they are not successful in lifting the World Cup, they can etch their name in history by scoring the most goals in the competition.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
As chip makers look to add manufacturing capacity to meet steep demand, deposition and etch technology are driving Ichor’s growth, Shi said.
From MarketWatch ● May 9, 2026
Fracture lines etch the surface of the glass box as if a body fell from the sky and landed on it.
From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
From “Down goes Frazier!” to “Do you believe in miracles?” each one is a master class in timing and brevity that etches one singular moment straight into legend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
A weekend the Mercedes driver etches his name into the history books as the youngest driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
He excitedly explains how he etches the tags with a metal machine.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2024
At her packing house, durians are passed under a laser that etches a serial number onto the skin of each fruit.
From New York Times ● Jun. 16, 2024
A frown etches at the corners of his mouth.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
The sights and smells have etched themselves on Petra Mertens's mind.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
In the end, our digital presence isn’t etched in concrete; it’s an ever-evolving story.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
Most office dress codes aren’t etched in the employee handbook.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Liverpool, for whom Keegan played for between 1971 and 1977, said Keegan's "indomitable spirit and remarkable contribution will be forever etched in our history and his legacy will live on".
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Over by a large fireplace was an axe with threads of bronze etched around the handle.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
The declines followed losses by major US semiconductor stocks, after a report said a company was making specialised ultraviolet etching machines to boost China's chip industry.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The event includes Woman with an Arm Tattoo, an etching depicting Sue Tilley, and runs until 13 September.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
A typical fab processes silicon wafers in batches, moving them together through different stages of printing and etching to build chips layer by layer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● 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
Lightning split the northern sky, etching the black tower of the Night Lamp against the blue-white sky.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
