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print

v. · n. · adj.
US //ˈpɹɪnt// UK //pɹˈɪnt// print
  1. 1 to produce on paper (v.)
    A2 Elementary Computing

    to use a machine to put words or pictures onto paper.

    to produce copies of text or images on a surface, typically paper, using a mechanical or digital process.

    Example

    I need to print ten copies of the report for the meeting.

    Example

    The office manager requested that we print the final draft on high-quality cardstock to ensure a professional presentation for the investors.

    Usage

    Transitive; requires a direct object representing the document or image.
  2. 2 to write clearly (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to write letters clearly and separately, not joined together like in cursive.

    to write characters in a style where letters are not connected, often for the sake of legibility.

    Example

    Please print your name clearly at the top of the form.

    Example

    The application instructions explicitly state that candidates must print their responses in black ink to facilitate digital scanning.

    Usage

    Ambitransitive; can be used with or without an object.
    • block letter
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  1. 3 to publish (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to include a story or article in a newspaper or book.

    to publish or issue a text in a printed medium such as a journal or book.

    Example

    The local newspaper decided to print her letter to the editor.

    Example

    The magazine refused to print the controversial interview until their legal team had thoroughly vetted the claims made by the source.
  2. 4 printed text (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    letters and words as they appear in a book or newspaper.

    the letters or characters forming the text of a document, considered in terms of size or style.

    Example

    The print in this book is too small for me to read without glasses.

    Example

    The contract was intentionally designed with dense, tiny print to discourage the average consumer from reading the restrictive clauses in detail.
  3. 5 a mark or impression (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a mark left on a surface by something pressing against it, like a foot or finger.

    a visible impression or mark left on a surface by a physical object.

    Example

    The police found a muddy boot print near the broken window.

    Example

    Forensic investigators carefully lifted a partial thumb print from the glass surface, hoping it would match a profile in the national database.
  4. 6 a photograph or artwork (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Photography

    a picture or photograph that has been produced on paper.

    a photograph produced from a negative or a work of art produced in multiple copies via a printing process.

    Example

    She bought a beautiful print of a landscape to hang in her bedroom.

    Example

    The gallery specialized in limited-edition prints, each signed and numbered by the artist to maintain their market value.
  5. 7 patterned cloth (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    fabric that has a pattern or design printed on it.

    cloth or fabric decorated with a printed pattern of dye.

    Example

    She wore a bright floral print dress to the summer wedding.

    Example

    The interior designer recommended a subtle geometric print for the curtains to complement the minimalist aesthetic of the living room.
  6. 8 relating to media (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing things like newspapers and magazines rather than TV or the internet.

    relating to or appearing in printed publications as opposed to broadcast or digital media.

    Example

    He still prefers reading a print newspaper over the digital version.

    Example

    Despite the rise of social media, print journalism remains a vital component of the democratic process by providing in-depth investigative reporting.
  7. 9 weapon outline (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang American English

    when the shape of a hidden gun shows through someone's clothes.

    to inadvertently reveal the outline of a concealed firearm through one's clothing.

    Example

    He had to adjust his jacket because his holster was printing.

    Example

    The undercover officer was concerned that his compact pistol was printing against his thin shirt, potentially compromising his identity to the suspects.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very specific term used primarily in the context of concealed carry in the United States.
Origin

From Middle English *printen, prenten, preenten, an apheretic form of emprinten, enprinten (“to impress; imprint”) (see imprint). Compare Dutch prenten (“to imprint”), Middle Low German prenten (“to print; write”), Danish prente (“to print”), Swedish prenta (“to write German letters”). Compare also Late Old French printer, preindre (“to press”), from Latin premere (“to press”).

Word family
Idioms3 entries

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