a facsimile, for use in printing, of a block of type, an engraving, or the like, consisting of a thin copper or nickel shell deposited by electrolytic action in a wax, lead, or plastic mold of the original and backed with lead alloy.
Sometimes shortened to: electro a duplicate printing plate made by electrolytically depositing a layer of copper or nickel onto a mould of the original
—vb
2.
(tr) to make an electrotype of (printed matter, illustrations, etc)