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printing

American  
[prin-ting] / ˈprɪn tɪŋ /

noun

  1. the art, process, or business of producing books, newspapers, etc., by impression from movable types, plates, etc.

  2. the act of a person or thing that prints.

  3. words, symbols, etc., in printed form.

  4. printed material.

  5. the total number of copies of a book or other publication printed at one time.

    The book had a first printing of 10,000.

  6. writing in which the letters resemble printed ones.


printing British  
/ ˈprɪntɪŋ /

noun

    1. the process, business, or art of producing printed matter

    2. ( as modifier )

      printing ink

  1. printed text

  2. Also called: impression.  all the copies of a book or other publication printed at one time

  3. a form of writing in which letters resemble printed letters

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of printing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at print, -ing 1

Vocabulary lists containing printing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

From mini-pigs and organ printing to cryotherapy and genetics, Russia’s president has turned antiaging research into a Kremlin priority.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

"I run a lot of the 3D printing and the manufacturing side rather than the design side."

From BBC • May 27, 2026

According to Margolis, the smaller trim size was previously the industry standard for U.S.-based publishing houses, and any fluctuation is due to the evolution of printing technology.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

More friction in logistics and tighter commoity markets explain why what Currie called the “molecule complex” is printing fresh records every week.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

What the printing press did, quite simply, was undermine ‘the dishonourable tyranny of that Usurper, Authority’ and strengthen evidence.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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