mezzotint

[ met-soh-tint, med-zoh-, mez-oh- ]
See synonyms for: mezzotintmezzotintedmezzotinting on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a method of engraving on copper or steel by burnishing or scraping away a uniformly roughened surface.

  2. a print produced by this method.

verb (used with object)
  1. to engrave in mezzotint.

Origin of mezzotint

1
First recorded in 1730–40, mezzotint is from the Italian word mezzotinto half-tint. See mezzo, tint

Other words from mezzotint

  • mez·zo·tint·er, noun

Words Nearby mezzotint

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How to use mezzotint in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mezzotint

mezzotint

/ (ˈmɛtsəʊˌtɪnt) /


noun
  1. a method of engraving a copper plate by scraping and burnishing the roughened surface

  2. a print made from a plate so treated

verb
  1. (tr) to engrave (a copper plate) in this fashion

Origin of mezzotint

1
C18: from Italian mezzotinto half tint

Derived forms of mezzotint

  • mezzotinter, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012