v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Etched p. pr. & vb. n. Etching. ] [ D. etsen, G. ätzen to feed, corrode, etch. MHG. etzen, causative of ezzen to eat, G. essen &unr_;&unr_;. See Eat. ] 1. To produce, as figures or designs, on mental, glass, or the like, by means of lines or strokes eaten in or corroded by means of some strong acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The plate is first covered with varnish, or some other ground capable of resisting the acid, and this is then scored or scratched with a needle, or similar instrument, so as to form the drawing; the plate is then covered with acid, which corrodes the metal in the lines thus laid bare. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To subject to etching; to draw upon and bite with acid, as a plate of metal. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was etching a plate at the beginning of 1875. Hamerton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To sketch; to delineate. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There are many empty terms to be found in some learned writes, to which they had recourse to etch out their system. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A variant of Eddish. [ Obs. ] Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To practice etching; to make etchings. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Cut or impressed into a surface.
Syn. -- engraved, graven, incised. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Corroded so that the surface is matte and not fully transparent; -- of glass. [ PJC ]

n. One who etches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act, art, or practice of engraving by means of acid which eats away lines or surfaces left unprotected in metal, glass, or the like. See Etch, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A design carried out by means of the above process; a pattern on metal, glass, etc., produced by etching. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An impression on paper, parchment, or other material, taken in ink from an etched plate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Etching figures (Min.), markings produced on the face of a crystal by the action of an appropriate solvent. They have usually a definite form, and are important as revealing the molecular structure. --
Etching needle, a sharp-pointed steel instrument with which lines are drawn in the ground or varnish in etching. --
Etching stitch (Needlework), a stitch used outline embroidery. [ 1913 Webster ]