aquatint

[ ak-wuh-tint, ah-kwuh- ]

noun
  1. a process imitating the broad flat tints of ink or wash drawings by etching a microscopic crackle on the copperplate intended for printing.

  2. an etching made by this process.

verb (used with or without object)
  1. to etch in aquatint.

Origin of aquatint

1
1775–85; variant of aqua-tinta<Italian acqua tinta literally, tinted water. See aqua, tint

Other words from aquatint

  • aq·ua·tint·er, aq·ua·tint·ist, noun

Words Nearby aquatint

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How to use aquatint in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aquatint

aquatint

/ (ˈækwəˌtɪnt) /


noun
  1. a technique of etching copper with acid to produce an effect resembling the flat tones of wash or watercolour. The tone or tint is obtained by acid (aqua) biting through the pores of a ground that only partially protects the copper

  2. an etching made in this way

verb
  1. (tr) to etch (a block, etc) in aquatint

Origin of aquatint

1
C18: from Italian acqua tinta: dyed water

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012