ink

[ingk]

noun

1. a fluid or viscous substance used for writing or printing.

2. a dark, protective fluid ejected by the cuttlefish and other cephalopods.

3. Slang.,  a tattoo or tattoos.

   Oh, nice, you got new ink!

4. Informal.,  publicity, especially in print media.

   Their construction plans got some ink in the local paper.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark, stain, cover, or smear with ink.

   to ink one's clothes.

2. Informal.,  to sign one's name to (an official document).

   We expect to ink the contract tomorrow.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Slang.,  to mark (the skin) with tattoos.

   The team agreed that they would all get inked if they brought home the championship this year.

ink

/ ɪŋk /

noun

1. a fluid or paste used for printing, writing, and drawing

2. 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

1. to mark with ink

2. to coat (a printing surface) with ink

ink

1. A dark liquid ejected for protection by most cephalopods, including the octopus and squid. Ink consists of highly concentrated melanin.

Other Word Forms

• inker noun
• inkless adjective
• inklike adjective
• reink verb (used with object)
• uninked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ink¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English inke, inc, enke, from Old French enca, enque, ancre, from Late Latin encautum, variant of encaustum “burnt in, painted in,” from Greek énkauston “purple ink (used for imperial signatures),” noun use of neuter of énkaustos “burnt in”; encaustic

Word History and Origins

Origin of ink¹

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

Example Sentences

"If you're swimming in red ink, an infusion of cash helps stem the tide," he said of the bailout.

From BBC

Nevertheless, lots of ink continues to be spilled, and lots of podcasts streamed, to justify or not the operatic credentials of “West Side Story.”

From Los Angeles Times

The pair had cats - a reference to Sunderland football team's nickname the Black Cats - inked after the team's opener in the north east.

From BBC

"Then it's nothing more than ink on paper".

From BBC

Provisions were made for voters that could not write - they marked their ballot paper with an inked fingerprint, while others used a pen to select their chosen candidate.

From BBC

Related Words

• impression 
• imprint 
• line 
• point 
• record 
• scar 
• score 
• signature 
• spot 
• stain 
• stamp 
• streak 
• symbol