I. ə̇mˈprint transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English emprenten, imprenten, from Middle French empreinter, from Old French, from empreinte imprint (n.)
1.
a. : to mark by pressure (as a figure on an object or as the object itself with the figure) : impress
a machine to imprint code numbers on metal merchandise
b. archaic : print
c. : to add an imprint to
imprinted statement enclosures
imprint a missing letter
2. : to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory)
imprinting her features, her look, her smile, her voice, upon his memory — Edith Sitwell
3. : to stamp the characteristics of
imprinting his own personality on his productions — E.Bentley
4. : to establish a response in by imprinting
ducklings of five species were imprinted on human beings as their parent-companions at hatching — Margaret M. Nice
II. ˈimˌp- noun
Etymology: modification (influenced by in- ) (II) of Middle French empreinte, from Old French, from feminine of empreint, past participle of empreindre to imprint, impress, from Latin imprimere to impress, imprint — more at impress
: something imprinted or printed: as
a. : a mark (as a figure or symbol) made by pressure
the footstep left its imprint in the mud
bore the imprint of a circle and dot in the center — Zane Grey
an imprint of the town seal on each bond — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
b.
(1) : a publisher's name often with address and date of publication usually placed in a book at the foot of a title page
(2) : a printer's name or identifying device usually placed in a book on the copyright page
(3) : a dealer's or retailer's name and address printed on matter (as a blotter, catalog, or promotional piece) put out by a wholesaler or supplier
(4) : a correction (as of a letter that shows imperfectly in a run of printed sheets) struck in by running the printed sheets through the press a second time
(5) : the name of the manufacturer of a stamp printed in the margin of a sheet or of a single stamp
c. : an indelible distinguishing effect or influence
the teacher left her imprint on several generations of students
the raw western settlements … so strongly marked by the imprint of the industrial process — Sinclair Lewis
their work bears a sort of regional imprint — Malcolm Cowley
III. noun
: the name under which a publisher issues books