engrave

[ en-greyv ]

verb (used with object)

, en·graved, en·grav·ing.

1. to chase (letters, designs, etc.) on a hard surface, as of metal, stone, or the end grain of wood:

   She had the jeweler engrave her name on the back of the watch.

2. to print from such a surface.
3. to mark or ornament with incised letters, designs, etc.:

   He engraved the ring in a floral pattern.

4. to impress deeply; infix:

   That image is engraved on my mind.

engrave

/ ɪnˈɡreɪv /

verb

1. to inscribe (a design, writing, etc) onto (a block, plate, or other surface used for printing) by carving, etching with acid, or other process
2. to print (designs or characters) from a printing plate so made
3. to fix deeply or permanently in the mind

Derived Forms

• enˈgraver, noun

Other Words From

• en·grava·ble adjective
• en·graver noun
• reen·grave verb (used with object) reengraved reengraving
• super·en·grave verb (used with object) superengraved superengraving
• under·en·graver noun
• unen·graved adjective
• well-en·graved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of engrave¹

1500–10; < Middle French engraver; en- ¹, grave ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of engrave¹

C16: from en- ¹+ grave ³, on the model of French engraver

Example Sentences

While commercial beekeepers typically engrave their boxed hives with their names or business logos, thieves often discard the original boxes or repaint them with another logo.

From Los Angeles Times

Before, to engrave the circuits on the silicon plates used in electronic devices like mobile phones, it was necessary to use polluting chemical products.

From Science Daily

Might as well engrave the nameplate on the NFL offensive rookie of the year award now.

From Los Angeles Times

A love lock is a padlock couples can engrave with their names before adding to a bridge, fence or installation at a special destination.

From Seattle Times

I also love the fact that they could have put it in a font, in something computer-generated, but they chose to engrave it in my handwriting.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• chisel
• embed
• etch
• imprint
• ingrain
• inscribe