Definition

1. Verb:
   • To carve, cut, or etch a design, letters, or a pattern into a hard surface: The action of using a tool to cut lines into materials like metal, wood, stone, or glass to create a permanent, decorative, or informative mark.
   • To impress or affect deeply, especially on the memory or mind: To fix something so firmly in the mind or memory that it seems permanently etched there.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Physical Carving):
  • The jeweler will engrave a special message on the inside of the ring.
  • Artists used to engrave illustrations onto copper plates for printing.
• Verb (Affecting the Mind):
  • The image of the accident was engraved in his memory forever.
  • Her words of kindness were engraved upon my heart.

Advanced Usage

• "to be engraved on/upon/in something": To be permanently fixed or remembered.
  • The date of their meeting was engraved upon his soul.
• "to engrave something with something": To inscribe a surface with a particular design or text.
  • They engraved the trophy with the champion's name.

Variants and Related Words

• Engraver (n): A person or tool that engraves.
  • The engraver skillfully worked on the silver plate.
• Engraving (n): The process or art of engraving; a print made from an engraved plate.
  • The book contained beautiful engravings of birds.
• Engraved (adj): Having a design or writing cut into the surface.
  • She wore an engraved locket.

Synonyms

• Etch: To cut a pattern or design into a surface, especially using acid.
• Inscribe: To write or carve words or symbols on a surface.
• Carve: To cut into a hard material to produce an object or design.
• Imprint: To impress or stamp a mark or pattern.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Engrave" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed with prepositions as shown in 'Advanced Usage'.)

Related Idioms

• Engraved in stone: Something that is permanent and unchangeable (often used in the negative: "not engraved in stone").
  • These plans are preliminary; they are not engraved in stone.

Verb

1. carve or cut a design or letters into
   • engrave the pen with the owner's name
2. carve or cut into a block used for printing or print from such a block
   • engrave a letter
3. impress or affect deeply
   • The event engraved itself into her memory
4. carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface
   • engrave a pen
   • engraved the trophy cupt with the winner's
   • the lovers scratched their names into the bark of the tree