# lithography

/ɫəˈθɑɡɹəfi/ (US) · /lɪθˈɒɡɹəfi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lithography
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a method of printing or drawing that uses a flat stone or metal plate. It works because oil and water do not mix, so the ink sticks only to the parts you draw on.

For teachers: a printing process based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. It involves drawing an image on a flat surface, such as a stone or metal plate, and then using ink to transfer the image to paper.

## Examples

- The artist used lithography to create a series of posters.
- Before the invention of digital printing, lithography was the primary method for producing high-quality color magazines and newspapers.
- The transition from traditional stone lithography to modern photolithography allowed for the mass production of complex circuit boards, fundamentally altering the landscape of the semiconductor industry.

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