From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishetchetch /etʃ/ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]AVD to cut lines on a metal plate, piece of glass, stone etc to form a picture or wordsetch on a gravestone with three names etched on it A laser is used to etch a pattern in the smooth surface of the disc.2 → be etched on/in your memory/mind3 [transitive]EXPRESSION ON somebody'S FACE if someone’s face is etched with pain, sadness etc, you can see these feelings from their expressionbe etched with something Her face was etched with tiredness. Craig saw lines of pain etched around her mouth.Grammar Etch is usually passive in this meaning.4 [transitive]LINE to make lines or patterns appear on something very clearly etched glass→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
etch• The U.S. studies have drawn attention to the use of glycol ethers - solvents used to etch circuits on to silicon wafers.• She took her place at his side again, and watched the exquisitely etched face in the soft light.• That contrast of tender sensibility and senseless brutality was etched into my mind, exposing the utter meaninglessness of violence and war.• An appendix scar was lightly etched on his stomach above the Speedo.• The design is etched onto the glasses using a laser.• A white flame roared up, etching the room in black and white.• When engraving was developed or etching was developed, engraving sort of, a lot of people lost interest in engraving.• His face was long and etched with a look of permanent sorrow.Origin etch (1600-1700) Dutch etsen, from German ätzen “to feed”; because originally the lines were “eaten” into the metal with acid 