etched
etched — verb
- etchedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- etcheds3rd person singular
- etcheding-ing form
- etchededpast simple
1. to create a detailed picture, pattern, or set of words on a hard surface such as
to create a detailed picture, pattern, or set of words on a hard surface such as metal, glass, or stone by cutting lines into the top layer, often using a strong acid or a very sharp tool to remove material from the exposed areas.
The jeweler etched the couple's names and wedding date inside the silver rings.
etch + object + onto + surface — preposition marks the destination
Using a needle-like tool, Reema etched a lotus flower pattern into the copper sheet.
The artist etched a map of the old city onto glass before making prints.
Each knife was etched with a serial number and the maker's mark using a laser.
The burning library was etched into Bao's memory for the rest of her life.
- engrave
very similar; 'engrave' usually implies cutting with a sharp tool, while 'etch' more often involves acid
- carve
less precise; used for cutting into stone, wood, or other materials with a tool
- inscribe
more formal; focuses on the act of writing words onto a surface
- burn into
informal figurative synonym; used for memories (e.g., 'burned into my mind')
文法句型
etch + noun + onto/into + noun
be etched with + noun
etch + preposition + noun (intransitive)
用法筆記
Used both literally (cutting into metal, glass, or stone with acid or a tool) and figuratively (of an image, experience, or emotion becoming permanently fixed in someone's mind — e.g., 'etched in my memory'). The figurative sense is very common in everyday English and is not limited to formal contexts.
常見錯誤
etched — noun
1. the method or technique of cutting a design into a hard surface using acid or a
the method or technique of cutting a design into a hard surface using acid or a sharp tool, especially as a way of making prints; the result produced by this method.
The students spent the term learning etch — from preparing the plate to applying the acid.
uncountable: 'of etch' referring to the technique
The museum display showed examples of etch from several eighteenth-century European printmakers.
Elena preferred etch over painting because the sharp lines gave her work a precise look.
A magnifying glass revealed the fine detail of the etch on the copper printing plate.
- etching
more common than 'etch' for referring to the art form or its product; 'etching' is the preferred term in most contexts
文法句型
the + etch + of + noun
by + etch
用法筆記
This noun sense is uncountable when referring to the technique as a whole ('Etch was developed as a printmaking method in the 15th century'). It can be countable when referring to a specific example or product ('an etch by Rembrandt'), though 'etching' is more common for the countable use.
2. a chemical substance, most often a strong acid, that eats away the surface of me
a chemical substance, most often a strong acid, that eats away the surface of metal, glass, or other hard materials to create a design or remove material during the etching process.
The factory uses a special acid mix as an etch for marking numbers on steel parts.
pattern: 'use + noun + as an etch for + purpose'
Nitric acid mixed with water is a common etch for copper in printmaking studios.
Technicians wear thick rubber gloves when handling the etch because the fumes are dangerous.
Bilal checked the strength of the etch before lowering the metal sheet into the tray.
文法句型
use + noun + as an etch
an + etch + for + noun
用法筆記
Used in technical and industrial settings. In everyday conversation, 'acid' or 'etchant' are more common than 'etch' for the chemical itself. The plural form 'etches' refers to different types of etching solutions.