mezzotint
noun, verb
Forms mezzotints mezzotinting mezzotinted mezzotinto
- noun A form of intaglio etching in which a metal plate is roughened evenly and then smoothed to bring out an image.
- noun An etching or print made using this method.
- verb To make such etchings
Etymology
Borrowed Italian mezzatinta (literally “half dye”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A manner of engraving on copper or steel by drawing upon a surface previously roughened, and then removing the roughness in places by scraping, burnishing, etc., so as to produce the requisite light and shade. Also, an engraving so produced.
- verb To engrave in mezzotint.
Etymology [Cf. F. mezzo-tinto.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “mezzotint”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details