inscription

American  

[in-skrip-shuhn] / ɪnˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

1. something inscribed.

2. a historical, religious, or other record cut, impressed, painted, or written on stone, brick, metal, or other hard surface.

3. a brief, usually informal dedication, as of a book or a work of art.

4. a note, as a dedication, that is written and signed by hand in a book.

5. the act of inscribing.

6. Pharmacology. the part of a prescription indicating the drugs and the amounts to be mixed.

7. British.

   1. an issue of securities or stocks.

   2. a block of shares in a stock, as bought or sold by one person.

8. Also called legend.  Numismatics. the lettering in the field of a coin, medal, etc.

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inscription British  

/ ɪnˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. something inscribed, esp words carved or engraved on a coin, tomb, etc

2. a signature or brief dedication in a book or on a work of art

3. the act of inscribing

4. philosophy linguistics an element of written language, esp a sentence Compare utterance 1

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Other Word Forms

• inscriptional adjective
• inscriptionless adjective
• inscriptively adverb
• preinscription noun
• superinscription noun

Etymology

Origin of inscription

1350–1400; Middle English inscripcio ( u ) n < Latin inscrīptiōn- (stem of inscrīptiō ), equivalent to inscrīpt ( us ) (past participle of inscrībere to inscribe ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

It was a Showtime magic born of a commitment found in one of the two inscriptions on the statue.

From Los Angeles Times

Canoes lay in rows on the beach, bright colors and inscriptions painted on their bows.

From Literature

The small piece of carved thin bone bears an inscription.

From BBC

Historical inscriptions and archaeological evidence show that travel between Britain and north Africa was common during this period and continued even after Roman rule ended.

From Science Daily

Rachel and Stephen huddled around the illustration in the castle foyer with faithful Reece, under the pretence of translating its Latin inscription, before the two traitors asked Reece to make himself scarce.

From BBC

Related Words

• caption
• engraving
• epitaph
• lettering
• signature