# engraving

/ɪnˈɡɹeɪvɪŋ/ (US) · /ɛnɡɹˈeɪvɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/engraving
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a picture or design made by cutting lines into a hard surface like metal, wood, or glass. It can also mean the act of making these marks.

For teachers: a print made from an incised plate, or the process of incising a design into a hard surface. Often used to refer to the physical object produced by this technique.

## Examples

- The old book contains a beautiful engraving of the city.
- The artist spent weeks on the intricate engraving, carefully carving every detail into the copper plate.
- Nineteenth-century journals often relied on steel engraving to produce the sharp, fine lines necessary for detailed botanical illustrations and architectural diagrams.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the art form or process; countable when referring to a specific print or piece of art.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.