mezzotint

C2 Topic:Materials & Substances

Also spelled mezzotinto

US /ˈmɛzoʊˌtɪnt/ UK /ˈmɛtsəʊtɪnt/ See IPA manual

Freq #687701

Meanings

1

noun
a printmaking technique in which a metal plate is roughened to print dark tones and then scraped or burnished to create lighter areas

The artist used mezzotint to produce deep shadows and soft transitions of tone.
2

noun
a print produced by the mezzotint technique

The gallery displayed a seventeenth-century mezzotint beside the original portrait.
3

verb
to engrave or reproduce an image by the mezzotint process

She learned to mezzotint the prepared copper plate.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a printmaking technique in... mezzotint engravingintaglio process

2 noun · a print produced by the... mezzotint print

3 verb · to engrave or reproduce an... engrave in mezzotint

Word family

Derived forms mezzographmezzotintermezzotintist

Related forms engravingintaglioaquatintburnisher

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian mezzatinta, literally 'half tint,' from mezza, 'half,' + tinta, 'tint or tone.' The name reflects the method's rich intermediate tones between solid black and white.

Topics

Materials & Substances

External links

# mezzotint

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈmɛzoʊˌtɪnt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmɛtsəʊtɪnt/
**Frequency rank:** 687701

## Meanings
1. a printmaking technique in which a metal plate is roughened to print dark tones and then scraped or burnished to create lighter areas
2. a print produced by the mezzotint technique
3. to engrave or reproduce an image by the mezzotint process

## Examples
- The artist used mezzotint to produce deep shadows and soft transitions of tone.
- The gallery displayed a seventeenth-century mezzotint beside the original portrait.
- She learned to mezzotint the prepared copper plate.

## Synonyms
- mezzotint engraving
- intaglio process
- mezzotint print

## Derived Forms
- mezzograph
- mezzotinter
- mezzotintist

## Related Forms
- engraving
- intaglio
- aquatint
- burnisher

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian mezzatinta, literally 'half tint,' from mezza, 'half,' + tinta, 'tint or tone.' The name reflects the method's rich intermediate tones between solid black and white.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

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