ink
[ ingk ]
/ ɪŋk /
noun
a fluid or viscous substance used for writing or printing.
a dark, protective fluid ejected by the cuttlefish and other cephalopods.
Informal. publicity, especially in print media: Their construction plans got some ink in the local paper.
verb (used with object)
to mark, stain, cover, or smear with ink: to ink one's clothes.
Slang. to sign one's name to (an official document): We expect to ink the contract tomorrow.
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Nearby words
injurious, injury, injury list, injury time, injustice, ink, ink ball, ink fountain, ink in, ink jet, ink sac
Origin of ink
1200–50; Middle English inke, enke < Old French enque < Late Latin encautum, variant of encaustum < Greek énkauston purple ink, noun use of neuter of énkaustos burnt in. See encaustic
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for ink
British Dictionary definitions for ink
ink
/ (ɪŋk) /
noun
a fluid or paste used for printing, writing, and drawing
a dark brown fluid ejected into the water for self-concealment by an octopus or related mollusc from a gland (ink sac) near the anus
verb (tr)
to mark with ink
to coat (a printing surface) with ink
Derived Forms
inker, nounWord Origin for ink
C13: from Old French enque, from Late Latin encaustum a purplish-red ink, from Greek enkauston purple ink, from enkaustos burnt in, from enkaiein to burn in; see en- ², caustic
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
Science definitions for ink
ink
[ ĭngk ]
A dark liquid ejected for protection by most cephalopods, including the octopus and squid. Ink consists of highly concentrated melanin.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.