etch

v., etched, etch·ing, etch·es.

v.tr.

1. 1. To cut into the surface of (glass, for example) by the action of acid.
   2. To make or create by this method: etch a design on glass.
2. To impress, delineate, or imprint clearly: a landscape that is forever etched in my memory; trees that were etched against the winter sky.

v.intr.
To engage in etching.

[Dutch etsen, from German ätzen, from Middle High German etzen, from Old High German ezzen, to eat.]

etcher etch'er n.

To create a design in a material by digging out the material. The circuit designs on printed circuit boards and chips are etched by acid. See chip and printed circuit board.

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your iPhone/iTouch

1. Printing process that produces an image on the printing plate through a chemical or electrolytic process. See also color correction; dot etching; fine etching; gravure.

2. Solution used to prevent the nonprinting areas of a print plate from holding ink. See also desensitizer.

verb

1. To cut (a design or inscription) into a hard surface, especially for printing: carve, engrave, grave³, incise. See marks.
2. To produce a deep impression of: engrave, fix, grave³, impress, imprint, inscribe, stamp. See marks.

1. To cut away the surface of glass or metal with a strong acid or by abrasive action, usually in a decorative pattern.
2. To remove the surface of cast stone with acid to expose the aggregate.
3. To alter the surface texture of porcelain enamel by chemical attack.

---

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - radere, ætse, aftegne, præge uudsletteligt, markere
v. intr. - aftegne, markere
n. - radering, ætsning, kobberstik

Nederlands (Dutch)
etsen, gegrift zijn (van gevoelens etc.), chemische stof gebruikt bij het etsen

Français (French)
v. tr. - (Art, Typ) graver à l'eau forte, (fig) graver
v. intr. - (Art, Typ) graver à l'eau forte, (fig) graver
n. - gravure à l'eau forte

Deutsch (German)
v. - radieren, ätzen
n. - Radierer

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - χαράσσω (με οξύ)

Italiano (Italian)
incidere ad acquaforte

Português (Portuguese)
v. - gravar com água-forte (Pint.), delinear

Русский (Russian)
гравировать, запечатлеть, разъедать

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - grabar al agua fuerte, atacar con un ácido
v. intr. - practicar el arte de grabar
n. - ácido que se usa para grabar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - etsa

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
蚀刻, 蚀镂, 施行蚀刻法, 腐蚀剂

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 蝕刻, 蝕鏤
v. intr. - 施行蝕刻法
n. - 腐蝕劑

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 부각시키다
v. intr. - 식각법을 쓰다
n. - 부식액

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - エッチングする, エッチングで描く, 刻む

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يحفر أو يرسم كليشيه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮חרט, חרת‬
v. intr. - ‮חרט, חרת, עסק בחריטה‬
n. - ‮חרט, חרת, חריתה, חריטה‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.

etch a sketch