wood engraving

American  

noun

1. the art or process of engraving designs in relief with a burin on the end grain of wood, for printing.

2. a block of wood so engraved.

3. a print or impression from it.

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wood engraving British  

noun

1. the art of engraving pictures or designs on wood for printing by incising them with a burin on a block of wood cut across the grain

2. a block of wood so engraved or a print taken from it

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Other Word Forms

• wood engraver
  noun

Etymology

Origin of wood engraving

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

From a charming wood engraving of a “wandering wombat” to antique maps and marine life prints, Pioneer Square’s Davidson Galleries offers a wide selection of artworks on paper, all $250 and under.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2023

The wood engraving found on the Outer Banks is among several within the purgatory category.

From Washington Times • Mar. 15, 2020

Octave Édouard Jahyer’s 1856 wood engraving, after Gustave Doré, “The Legend of the Wandering Jew, 11” shows the accursed figure making his way through a world of slithering snakes and lizards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2018

About this time Jones also took up wood engraving, then joined two successive Catholic artists’ communities, both overseen by the master stonecutter and type designer Eric Gill.

From Washington Post • Apr. 11, 2017

On June 11, 1859, Harper’s Weekly published a wood engraving mocking such conventions.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling