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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Etch \Etch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Etched}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Etching}.] [D. etsen, G. [aum]tzen to feed, corrode, etch.
MHG. etzen, causative of ezzen to eat, G. essen ??. See
{Eat}.]
1. To produce, as figures or designs, on mental, glass, or
the like, by means of lines or strokes eaten in or
corroded by means of some strong acid.
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Note: The plate is first covered with varnish, or some other
ground capable of resisting the acid, and this is then
scored or scratched with a needle, or similar
instrument, so as to form the drawing; the plate is
then covered with acid, which corrodes the metal in the
lines thus laid bare.
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2. To subject to etching; to draw upon and bite with acid, as
a plate of metal.
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I was etching a plate at the beginning of 1875.
--Hamerton.
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3. To sketch; to delineate. [R.]
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There are many empty terms to be found in some
learned writes, to which they had recourse to etch
out their system. --Locke.
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Etching \Etch"ing\, n.
1. The act, art, or practice of engraving by means of acid
which eats away lines or surfaces left unprotected in
metal, glass, or the like. See {Etch}, v. t.
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2. A design carried out by means of the above process; a
pattern on metal, glass, etc., produced by etching.
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3. An impression on paper, parchment, or other material,
taken in ink from an etched plate.
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{Etching figures} (Min.), markings produced on the face of a
crystal by the action of an appropriate solvent. They have
usually a definite form, and are important as revealing
the molecular structure.

{Etching needle}, a sharp-pointed steel instrument with which
lines are drawn in the ground or varnish in etching.

{Etching stitch} (Needlework), a stitch used outline
embroidery.
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