I. ˈech verb
Etymology: Dutch etsen, from German ätzen to etch, corrode, from Old High German azzen to feed; akin to Old High German ezzan to eat — more at eat
Date: 1634
transitive verb
1.
a. : to produce (as a pattern or design) on a hard material by eating into the material's surface (as by acid or laser beam)
b. : to subject to such etching
2. : to delineate or impress clearly
scenes etch ed in our minds
pain was etch ed on his features
intransitive verb
: to practice etching
• etch·er noun
II. noun
Date: 1896
1. : the action or effect of etching a surface
2. : a chemical agent used in etching