# etch

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɛt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #37,917

## Definitions
1. To cut into a surface with an acid or other corrosive substance in order to make a pattern. Best known as a technique for creating printing plates, but also used for decoration on metal, and, in modern industry, to make circuit boards.
2. To engrave a surface.
3. To make a lasting impression.
4. To sketch; to delineate.

## Etymology
From Dutch etsen (“to etch”), from German ätzen (“to etch”), from Old High German azzon (“to cause to bite or feed”), from Proto-Germanic *atjaną, causative of *etaną (“to eat”) (whence also English eat).

## Easily confused with
- **eth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/etch-vs-eth)
- **ETF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/etch-vs-etf)
- **ETS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/etch-vs-ets)
- **Eton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/etch-vs-eton)
- **Etta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/etch-vs-etta)
- **Etna** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/etch-vs-etna)
- **etched** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/etch-vs-etched)
- **et** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/et-vs-etch)
- **eh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eh-vs-etch)
- **eta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eta-vs-etch)
- **ECT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ect-vs-etch)
- **ECB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ecb-vs-etch)
- **EDC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/edc-vs-etch)
- **ECM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ecm-vs-etch)
- **ESC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/esc-vs-etch)
- **Eph** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eph-vs-etch)
- **EEC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eec-vs-etch)
- **EAC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eac-vs-etch)
- **Erc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/erc-vs-etch)
- **each** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/each-vs-etch)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ecth`, `etcch`, `etchh`, `ethc`, `ettch`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/etch