# etching

/ˈɛtʃɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈɛtʃɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/etching
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a picture made by using acid to cut a design into a metal plate. You then use the plate to print the image onto paper.

For teachers: a printmaking process, or the resulting print, produced by using acid to incise a design into a metal plate. The plate is coated with a protective wax, which the artist scratches through before immersing the metal in an acid bath.

## Examples

- She bought a beautiful etching of the city skyline.
- The gallery is hosting an exhibition of 18th-century etchings that show the daily life of local farmers.
- The artist's mastery is evident in this etching, where the varying depths of the lines create a sophisticated play of light and shadow that woodcuts cannot easily replicate.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the artistic technique; countable when referring to a specific piece of art.

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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.