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

This was a groundbreaking method of relief etching that allowed him to combine both text and illustrations on the same copper printing plate.

From Barron's • Nov. 18, 2025

Cam Schlittler grew up dreaming about one day etching his name into the storied history of baseball’s most famous rivalry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

“They move from mountain to mountain, etching their knowledge into the rock: histories, philosophies, songs, mathematics.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• engraving
• inscription
• reproduction