ink
n. C / Un. the colored liquid inside a pen or printer that you use for writing and drawing. It can also refer to the permanent art people get on their skin.
n. a pigmented liquid or paste used for writing, printing, or drawing. In informal contexts, it refers to tattoos or the act of being tattooed.
The pen ran out of ink right before I finished the letter.
The printer needs a new black ink cartridge before we can produce the final report.
Ancient scribes often manufactured their own ink using a mixture of soot and organic binders to ensure the longevity of their manuscripts.
From Middle English ynke, from Old French enque, from Latin encaustum (“purple ink used by Roman emperors to sign documents”), from Ancient Greek ἔγκαυστον (énkauston, “burned-in”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + καίω (kaíō, “burn”). In this sense, displaced native Old English blæc (“ink”, literally “black”).
Uncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable when referring to specific colors or types of the liquid.