engraving

American  

[en-grey-ving] / ɛnˈgreɪ vɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or art of a person who or thing that engraves.

2. the art of forming designs by cutting, corrosion by acids, a photographic process, etc., on the surface of a metal plate, block of wood, or the like, for or as for the purpose of taking off impressions or prints of the design so formed.

3. the design engraved.

4. an engraved plate or block.

5. an impression or print from this.

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engraving British  

/ ɪnˈɡreɪvɪŋ /

noun

1. the art of a person who engraves

2. a block, plate, or other surface that has been engraved

3. a print made from such a surface

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engraving Cultural  

1. An artistic print made from a metal plate on which an artist has cut a design with a graver or a small chisel. (Compare etching.)

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Etymology

Origin of engraving

First recorded in 1595–1605; engrave + -ing ¹

Explanation

Engraving is the art or technique of carving designs into a surface. You'll find engraving on stationary, wedding rings, and even on tombstones. Some engraving results in an etched object, like a piece of jewelry or silverware. Other engraving is done on a metal plate, which is then used to print an illustration, design, or even paper money. You can call the design or resulting print an engraving as well. The word, from the verb engrave, combines the prefix en-, "in or into," and the now-obsolete grave, "to carve."

Example Sentences

When I think of people piling into funds with hot recent returns, I can’t help seeing this early engraving in my mind’s eye.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

More than 40,000 years ago, early humans were already engraving symbols onto tools, figurines, and other objects.

From Science Daily • Feb. 25, 2026

The publishers – Cadell and Davies – paid 20 guineas for the new painting which they planned to use as an engraving in all future editions of Burns' books.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

Later historians described this engraving and, despite having never seen the painting, catalogued its existence.

From Barron's • Nov. 30, 2025

Not only did the slaves need to This 1875 engraving of a sugar harvest in Louisiana shows the factory near the fields.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson

Related Words

• etching
• illustration
• inscription
• lithograph
• woodcut