- to cut, bite, or corrode with an acid or the like; engrave with an acid or the like, as to form a design in furrows that when charged with ink will give an impression on paper.
- to produce (a design, image, etc.) by this method, as on copper or glass.
- to outline clearly or sharply; delineate, as a person's features or character.
- to fix permanently in or implant firmly on the mind; root in the memory: Our last conversation is etched in my memory.
- to cut (a feature) into the surface of the earth by means of erosion: A deep canyon was etched into the land by the river's rushing waters.
- to practice the art of etching.
- an acid used for etching.
- to wear away the surface of (a metal, glass, etc) by chemical action, esp the action of an acid
- to cut or corrode (a design, decoration, etc) on (a metal or other plate to be used for printing) by using the action of acid on parts not covered by wax or other acid-resistant coating
- to cut with or as if with a sharp implement
- to imprint vividly
