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.

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printing British  

/ ˈprɪntɪŋ /

noun

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

   2. ( as modifier )

      printing ink

2. printed text

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

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

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Other Word Forms

• nonprinting adjective

Etymology

Origin of printing

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

Example Sentences

In the mid-2000s, Zimbabwe underwent a period of hyperinflation that resulted in printing banknotes worth 100 trillion dollars.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Cambridge Aerospace is among the startups seeking to cut production costs using modern technology such as 3-D printing and artificial intelligence, according to Chief Executive Steven Barrett.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

It also opens the door to new ways of controlling liquids in applications ranging from hydraulics and 3D printing to blood flow in the body.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

Questioned on the podcast as to whether this would include printing more money and more borrowing, Polanski said there would be "deep consideration" of the costs and benefits of a Green investment budget.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

It is not impossible to imagine priority disputes without the printing press, but in fact there are no priority disputes that we know of which predate printing.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• copy
• distribution
• issuance