What does "printing" mean?

1. (the process or industry) the business or act of producing books, newspapers, or documents using a machine. 2. (handwriting style) writing where the letters are not joined together, like the letters on a screen. 3. (a batch of books) all the copies of a book that are made at one time.

How do you use "printing"?

uncountable in this sense uncountable in this sense countable in this sense

printing

US //ˈpɹɪnɪŋ// UK //pɹˈɪntɪŋ// print·ing

1 the process or industry (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the business or act of producing books, newspapers, or documents using a machine.

the process or commercial industry of producing text and images on paper or other substrates using a press or digital printer.

Example

The invention of printing changed how people shared information forever.

Example

Advances in digital printing have significantly reduced the overhead costs for small-scale independent publishers.

Usage

uncountable in this sense
- publishing
- reproduction
2 handwriting style (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

writing where the letters are not joined together, like the letters on a screen.

a style of handwriting in which the characters are formed individually and are not cursive or joined.

Example

Please use clear printing when you fill out this official form.

Example

The teacher noted that the student's printing was exceptionally legible, though his cursive remained somewhat cramped and difficult to decipher.

Usage

uncountable in this sense
- block letters
- print
- cursive
- longhand

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3 a batch of books (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical

all the copies of a book that are made at one time.

a single batch of a publication produced during one continuous operation of a press.

Example

The first printing of the novel sold out in just two days.

Example

Collectors often seek out the first printing of a classic work, as subsequent impressions may contain subtle typographical corrections.

Usage

countable in this sense
- print run
- impression
- edition