lithography

American  

[li-thog-ruh-fee] / lɪˈθɒg rə fi /

noun

1. the art or process of producing a picture, writing, or the like, on a flat, specially prepared stone, with some greasy or oily substance, and of taking ink impressions from this as in ordinary printing.

2. a similar process in which a substance other than stone, as aluminum or zinc, is used.

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lithography British  

/ lɪˈθɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. a method of printing from a metal or stone surface on which the printing areas are not raised but made ink-receptive while the non-image areas are made ink-repellent

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Other Word Forms

• lithographer
  noun
• lithographic
  adjective
• lithographical
  adjective
• unlithographic
  adjective
• lithographically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of lithography

From the New Latin word lithographia, dating back to 1700–10. See litho-, -graphy

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Explanation

Lithography is a printmaking technique that's commonly used when text is being printed. Some artists also use lithography to print images. Unlike other forms of printmaking that involve carving a plate or block that's then coated with ink, in lithography the metal or stone plate is coated with a waxy material. Text or images are carved out of this coating and spread with an oily ink that only adheres to the coated surface. Maps, prints, newspapers, and many other items (often with both images and text) are printed this way. Lithography combines the Greek lithos, "stone," and graphein, "to write."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lithography

To test that possibility, the researchers created nanoscale versions of the pattern on silicon nitride films using electron beam lithography.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

Shares of Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML, which is the global leader in ultraviolet lithography, fell 5.8%, to $1,655.26.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

U.S.-listed shares of ASML, which makes both DUV and EUV lithography systems, are off more than 7% in midday action.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Separately, Bloomberg reported a Chinese company had started making immersion deep ultraviolet lithography machines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

In November he decides to learn the art of lithography, Theo’s suggestion long ago, so that he can become an illustrator.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

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