etch

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To cut a design, letters, or lines into a hard surface.

   The jeweller etched their initials into the silver ring.

2. 2
   verb

   To fix something firmly in your memory.

   The memory of that day is etched into my mind forever.

3. 3
   verb

   To make a mark, line, or feature stand out clearly.

   Years of worry had etched deep lines into his face.

From Dutch etsen (“to etch”), from German ätzen (“to etch”), from Old High German azzon (“to cause to bite or feed”), from Proto-Germanic *atjaną, causative of *etaną (“to eat”) (whence also English eat).

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