printing ink

American  

noun

1. a type of ink that flows smoothly, dries quickly, and is of a consistency able to hold enough color to make printed matter legible: used to transfer the image on a press plate to the printing surface.

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Etymology

Origin of printing ink

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

She stenciled on the design, slathering on bright red or white block printing ink with a roller.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2022

It arrived in the post after four days, labelled as "printing ink filler".

From BBC • Oct. 4, 2015

As always, in developing a series, he juggles several media, including oil paint, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, ink on paper, ink on plastic, printing ink and photocopying.

From New York Times • Mar. 21, 2014

We have already ordered extra printing ink so that we can print out all the new shelf-edge labels.

From The Guardian • Jun. 10, 2010

The smell of printing ink is not good for a man’s morals. 

From The Grey Lady by Merriman, Henry Seton