MEANING
1. To form a design or pattern on a surface by chemical action or controlled removal.
2. To fix an image or experience deeply in memory or perception.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- etch a circuit
- etched glass
On the page
Acid etched the circuit pattern into the metal.
They etched a warning onto the glass.
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- etch
- Past tense
- etched
- Past participle
- etched
- Present participle
- etching
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- etch
- Present continuous
- am/is/are etching
- Present perfect
- have/has etched
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been etching
- Past
- etched
- Past continuous
- was/were etching
- Past perfect
- had etched
- Past perfect continuous
- had been etching
- Future
- will etch
- Future continuous
- will be etching
- Future perfect
- will have etched
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been etching
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: sci-fi. Forms: etch; etches; etched; etched; etching Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: etches.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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