etching
UK: ˈetʃ.ɪŋ | US: ˈetʃ.ɪŋ
n. 1. The art or process of engraving a design onto a hard surface, especially metal, using acid.
n. 2. A print produced from an engraved metal plate.
n. 3. A design or inscription created by this method.
etching = etch<to engrave> + ing<noun suffix>
- etch: Derived from Dutch etsen (to etch), from German ätzen (to corrode, etch), originally meaning "to feed" (as acid "eats" into metal).
- ing: A suffix forming nouns denoting action, process, or result.
Etymology Origin:
The word etching traces back to the Dutch etsen, reflecting the technique's refinement in 16th-century Europe. The Germanic root ätzen originally described feeding (like acid "feeding" on metal), later narrowing to the artistic process. The -ing suffix standardizes it as a noun for the technique or product.
Rembrandt mastered the art of etching, creating intricate prints with delicate lines.
The museum displayed an 18th-century etching of a pastoral landscape.
She learned etching by practicing on copper plates.
The etching process involves applying acid to exposed metal grooves.
His latest etching depicts a bustling cityscape.