I. ˈprint noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English printe, prente, preinte, from Old French preinte, from preint, past participle of preindre to press, from Latin premere — more at press
1.
a.
(1) : a mark made by impression : a line, character, figure, or indentation made by the pressure of one thing on another
sealed with a print of his thumb in soft wax
the delicate prints of a squirrel in snow
(2) : a mental impression : imprint
these sorrows left their print on his spirit
b. obsolete : vestige
c. : something impressed with a print or formed in a mold
obtained an accurate plaster print of the convolutions of the skull
a print of butter
d. : an intaglio impression reproducing in reverse an original having somewhat slight relief ; also : a cast or impression in relief taken from such an intaglio
e. : core print
f. : tracing 2c
2. : a device or instrument (as a stamp, die, or mold) for impressing or forming a print
3.
a. : printed state or form
to see his name in print
put a poem into print
b. : the printing craft or industry
wise in the ways of print
c. : type
set it up in print
4.
a.
(1) : printed matter ; especially : a printed publication
(2) prints plural : printed papers or cards (as newspapers, pamphlets, sheet music, address cards, printing proofs, engravings) of the specifications set forth in United States postal regulations
b. : newsprint
5. : printed letters : printed matter with regard to quality, size, or form
clear print
large print
small print
6.
a. : a copy made by any printing process
color prints
sporting prints
b.
(1) : a reproduction of an original painting or other work of art obtained usually by a photomechanical process
(2) : an artistic work sometimes with accompanying text published on a page of not more than four folds in a periodical or separately to advertise merchandise and entitled to copyright registration under English copyright law
c. : cloth with a pattern or figured design applied by printing
d. : a product of the silk-screen process
e.
(1) : a photographic copy made on a sensitized surface (as from a negative or from a drawing on transparent paper)
(2) : a photographic negative made from a positive, a negative made from a negative, or a positive made from a positive
(3) : a developed motion picture-film containing positive images as printed from a negative
7. : something (as a dress) made of a print fabric
ruffled prints for your kitchen windows
•
- in print
- out of print
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English printen, prenten, from printe, prente print
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make an impression in or upon : mark with a print
two small light feet that barely printed the soft soil
fresh butter worked, salted, and printed
b. : to cause (as a mark) to be stamped : make (an impression or mark) by or as if by pressure
print his seal in wax
c. : to apply pressure with (as a stamp of the foot) so as to leave an impression
2.
a. : to make a copy of by impressing paper against an inked printing surface or by an analogous method
printing columned pages
print bank notes
— often used with up
b. : to perform or cause to be performed all or some of the operations necessary to the production of (as a publication, a piece of printed matter, a picture)
print greeting cards
print an edition of a newspaper
c. : to impress (as wallpaper or cloth) with a design or pattern
print cloth with linoleum blocks
this air-dried tub-sized paper is easy to print — Graphic Arts Monthly
: impress (a pattern or design) on something
printed gay foliage on sheer linen
d. : to publish in print
“all the news that's fit to print ” — New York Times
3. : to form manually in unjoined characters resembling those of ordinary type
print the name and address clearly
4.
a. : to make (a positive picture) on sensitized photographic paper, film, plate, or other material from a negative or a positive
b. : to make (a negative) from a negative or a positive
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to use or practice the art of typography : work as a printer
b. : to produce printed matter
the new rotary press prints very rapidly
c. : to make a printed copy
badly worn type prints poorly
d. : to be susceptible of printing
this paper prints badly
2. archaic : publish ; especially : to publish an article or a book
3. : to write or hand-letter in imitation of unjoined printed characters
4. of a firearm or a bullet : to puncture a paper target