| etch | 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. 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. 2. To subject to etching; to draw upon and bite with acid, as a plate of metal. "I was etching a plate at the beginning of 1875." (Hamerton) 3. To sketch; to delineate. "There are many empty terms to be found in some learned writes, to which they had recourse to etch out their system." (Locke) Origin: D. Etsen, G. Atzen to feed, corrode, etch. MHG. Etzen, causative of ezzen to eat, G. Essen . See Eat. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| etching | 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. 2. A design carried out by means of the above process; a pattern on metal, glass, etc, produced by etching. 3. An impression on paper, parchment, or other material, taken in ink from an etched plate. Etching figures, a stitch used outline embroidery. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| acid etch | <dentistry> A procedure where a weak acid smeared on your teeth to ready your teeth for brackets. The acid etch helps your brackets stay on better. (08 Jan 1998) |
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| acid etch cemented splint | A splint of heavy wire which is cemented to the labial surfaces of teeth with any of the acid etch cement techniques; used to stabilise traumatically displaced or periodontally diseased teeth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| freeze etch | <microscopy, technique> A method of preparing a cell for study by freezing it, cracking it open to reveal the organelles, freeze drying it, then examining it under the electron microscope. (09 Oct 1997) |