imprint

[noun im-print; verb im-print]

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noun

a mark made by pressure; a mark or figure impressed or printed on something.

any impression or impressed effect: He left the imprint of his thought on all succeeding scholars.

Bibliography.

the name of a book's publisher printed on the title page or elsewhere, usually with the place and date of publication.
the statement of such information in a bibliographic description of a printed work.
a name, title, or other designation by which all or certain specific books of a publisher are identified.

any marketing name used by a company or organization for a product line; brand or label.

the printer's name and address as indicated on any printed matter.

verb (used with object)

to impress (a quality, character, distinguishing mark, etc.).

to produce (a mark) on something by pressure.

to bestow, as a kiss.

to fix firmly on the mind, memory, etc.

Animal Behavior, Psychology. to acquire or establish by imprinting.

to make an imprint upon.

verb (used without object)

to make an impression; have an effect.

Origin of imprint

1325–75; im-¹ + print; replacing Middle English empreynten < Middle French empreinter, derivative of empreinte, feminine past participle of empreindre < Latin imprimere to impress¹

Related formsre·im·print, verb (used with object)un·im·print·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for imprint

signature, etch, inscribe, engrave, emblem, name, trace, stamp, impress, influence, effect, dent, design, indentation, trademark, print, mark, banner, heading, sign

Examples from the Web for imprint

Contemporary Examples of imprint

Reprinted by permission of Soft Skull Press, an imprint of Counterpoint.
Living Black & Gay in the ’50s
Alain Mabanckou
December 3, 2014
No Hero and No Easy Day are published by Penguin Group (USA)'s Dutton imprint.
‘They Don’t Call It SEAL Team 6-Year-Old for Nothing’: Commandos Clash Over Tell-All Book
Kimberly Dozier
November 3, 2014
Andre Torres, the former editor of Scratch Magazine, which began as an imprint of XXL, remembers similar hostile situations.
It Was All a Dream: Drama, Bullshit, and the Rebirth of The Source Magazine
Alex Suskind
October 14, 2014
Reprinted by arrangement with Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Random House LLC.
Face It—We Rubes Will Never Live Like Gwyneth and Jennifer Aniston
Rachel Bertsche
July 2, 2014
Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Random House LLC.
The Rise and Fall…and Rise Again of the Old-Fashioned
Allison McNearney
June 14, 2014

Historical Examples of imprint

It was published in 1766, with a London imprint on the title-page.
Ponteach
Robert Rogers
How could he who appeared to the tailor Bauh imprint his hand on the board which he presented to him?
The Phantom World
Augustin Calmet
Many a volume printed in Holland and Germany bears the London imprint.
The Book-Hunter at Home
P. B. M. Allan
For some reason or other no imprint was applied to the plate for the 17c value.
The Stamps of Canada
Bertram Poole
I wanted to imprint a sweet—serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all.'
A Pair of Blue Eyes
Thomas Hardy

British Dictionary definitions for imprint

imprint

noun (ˈɪmprɪnt)

a mark or impression produced by pressure, printing, or stamping

a characteristic mark or indication; stampthe imprint of great sadness on his face

the publisher's name and address, usually with the date of publication, in a book, pamphlet, etc

the printer's name and address on any printed matter

verb (ɪmˈprɪnt)

to produce (a mark, impression, etc) on (a surface) by pressure, printing, or stampingto imprint a seal on wax; to imprint wax with a seal

to establish firmly; impress; stampto imprint the details on one's mind

(of young animals) to undergo the process of imprinting

Derived Formsimprinter, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for imprint

late 14c., from Old French empreinter, from empreinte, noun use of fem. past participle of eimpreindre "to impress, imprint," from Vulgar Latin *impremere, from Latin imprimere "to impress, imprint" (see impress). As a noun from mid-15c.