incise

American  

[in-sahyz] / ɪnˈsaɪz /

verb (used with object)

incised, incising

1. to cut into; cut marks, figures, etc., upon.

2. to make (marks, figures, etc.) by cutting; engrave; carve.

---

incise British  

/ ɪnˈsaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to produce (lines, a design, etc) by cutting into the surface of (something) with a sharp tool

---

Etymology

Origin of incise

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin incīsus, past participle of incīdere “to carve, cut into,” equivalent to in- “in” in- ² + cīd- “to cut” + -tus past participle suffix, with -dt- becoming -s-

Example Sentences

They settled in Philadelphia and, as a teenager, he learned engraving and earned a living incising designs for silverware firms—no doubt honing his talent for detail.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the opposite, reflective face bears an image incised in finely engraved lines that under normal conditions is virtually imperceptible to the naked eye.

From The Wall Street Journal

The development of new pastes advanced the formation and integration of sculpture; and “paste on paste” permitted the use of incised bas-reliefs.

From The Wall Street Journal

They found that the Martian valleys' branching angles "are more similar to terrestrial valley networks incised by overland flow, than valley networks incised by re-emerging groundwater flow."

From Salon

As a result, some streams became deeply incised channels that act as drains, lowering the water table and encouraging conifers to move in where meadows once were, Pope said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• engrave
• etch