To produce (a mark or pattern) on a surface by pressure.
To produce a mark on (a surface) by pressure.
To impart a strong or vivid impression of: "We imprint our own ideas onto acts"(Ellen Goodman).
To fix firmly, as in the mind: He tried to imprint the number on his memory.
To modify (a gene) by chemical means.
n.
(ĭm'prĭnt')
A mark or pattern produced by imprinting. See Synonyms at impression.
A distinguishing influence or effect: Spanish architecture that shows the imprint of Islamic rule.
A publisher's name, often with the date, address, and edition, printed at the bottom of a title page of a publication.
[Middle English emprenten, from Old French empreinter, from empreinte, impression, from feminine past participle of empreindre, to print, from Latin imprimere, to impress; see impress1.]
c.1374, from O.Fr. empreinter, from empreinte, noun use of fem. pp. of eimpreindre "to impress, imprint," from V.L. *impremere, from L. imprimere "to impress, imprint" (see impress).
a distinctive influence; "English stills bears the imprint of the Norman invasion"
2.
a concavity in a surface produced by pressing; "he left the impression of his fingers in the soft mud" [syn: depression]
3.
an identification of a publisher; a publisher's name along with the date and address and edition that is printed at the bottom of the title page; "the book was published under a distinguished imprint"
4.
an impression produced by pressure or printing
5.
a device produced by pressure on a surface
verb
1.
establish or impress firmly in the mind; "We imprint our ideas onto our children"
2.
mark or stamp with or as if with pressure; "To make a batik, you impress a design with wax" [syn: impress]
Main Entry: im·print Pronunciation: im-'print, 'im-" Function: transitive verb 1: to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory) 2: to subject to or induce by imprinting <an imprinted preference> imprintintransitive senses : to undergo imprinting
—im·print·er/-&r/noun
Im*press"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Impressing.] [L. impressus, p. p. of imprimere to impress; pref. im- in, on + premere to press. See Press to squeeze, and cf. Imprint.]1. To press, stamp, or print something in or upon; to mark by pressure, or as by pressure; to imprint (that which bears the impression). His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed. --Shak. 2. To produce by pressure, as a mark, stamp, image, etc.; to imprint (a mark or figure upon something). 3. Fig.: To fix deeply in the mind; to present forcibly to the attention, etc.; to imprint; to inculcate. Impress the motives of persuasion upon our own hearts till we feel the force of them. --I. Watts. 4. [See Imprest, Impress, n., 5.] To take by force for public service; as, to impress sailors or money. The second five thousand pounds impressed for the service of the sick and wounded prisoners. --Evelyn.