etch
To cut or scratch a design into a hard surface.
etch in a sentence
- Someone had etched their initials into the old oak desk many years ago.
- The jeweller used a fine needle to etch a pattern of leaves into the silver bracelet.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to etch?
- Aerase
- Bsmooth
- Ccarve
Show the answer
C: carve. The other three mean the opposite of etch.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to etch?
- Acarve
- Berase
- Ccut
- Dscratch
Show the answer
B: erase. The other three mean nearly the same as etch.
Words that mean something similar
carve, scratch, cut
Words that mean the opposite
erase, smooth
More words about movement & action
- evacuate: To leave a dangerous place, or to move people away from one.
- evade: To avoid someone or something by being quick or clever.
- expel: To force someone or something to leave or come out.
- extract: To take or pull something out, often with effort.
- falter: To lose confidence and begin to hesitate or stumble.
- feat: An act that takes great skill, strength or courage.
- flail: To wave your arms and legs about wildly.
- flee: To run away from danger.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test