photolithography

[ foh-toh-li-thog-ruh-fee ]

noun

1. the technique or art of making photolithographs.
2. Electronics. a process whereby integrated and printed circuits are produced by photographing the circuit pattern on a photosensitive substrate and chemically etching away the background.

photolithography

/ ˌfəʊtəʊlɪˈθɒɡrəfɪ; ˌfəʊtəʊˌlɪθəˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1. a lithographic printing process using photographically made plates Often shortened tophotolithoˌfəʊtəʊˈlaɪθəʊ
2. electronics a process used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, thin-film circuits, optical devices, and printed circuits in which a particular pattern is transferred from a photograph onto a substrate, producing a pattern that acts as a mask during an etching or diffusion process See also planar process

Derived Forms

• photolithographic, adjective
• ˌphotoliˈthographer, noun
• ˌphotoˌlithoˈgraphically, adverb

Other Words From

• pho·to·lith·o·graph·ic [foh-t, uh, -lith-, uh, -, graf, -ik], adjective
• photo·li·thogra·pher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of photolithography¹

First recorded in 1855–60; photo- + lithography

Example Sentences

Photolithography is particularly adapted to the reproduction of maps, plans, and other large drawings.

From Project Gutenberg

Reproduced with the maps, in photolithography, in Dutch and Latin after the editions of 1612 and 1613.

From Project Gutenberg

As the transfer from the plate can be readily made it is also better applicable to small editions than is photolithography.

From Project Gutenberg

Prints are then made from the stone the same as in photolithography, but with superior results as to clearness.

From Project Gutenberg