intaglio

in·ta·glio  (n-tly, -täl-)

n. pl. inta·glios

1.

a. A figure or design carved into or beneath the surface of hard metal or stone.

b. The art or process of carving a design in this manner.

2. A gemstone carved in intaglio.

3. Printing done with a plate bearing an image in intaglio.

4. A die incised so as to produce a design in relief.

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[Italian, from intagliare, to engrave : in-, in (from Latin; see in-²) + tagliare, to cut (from Vulgar Latin *tallire, from Late Latin tlire; see tailor).]

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intaglio [ɪnˈtɑːlɪˌəʊ]

n pl -lios, -li [-ljiː]

1. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Jewellery) a seal, gem, etc., ornamented with a sunken or incised design, as opposed to a design in relief Compare cameo

2. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) the art or process of incised carving

3. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) a design, figure, or ornamentation carved, engraved, or etched into the surface of the material used

4. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) any of various printing techniques using an etched or engraved plate. The whole plate is smeared with ink, the surface wiped clean, and the ink in the recesses then transferred to the paper or other material

5. (Engineering / Tools) an incised die used to make a design in relief

[from Italian, from intagliare to engrave, from tagliare to cut, from Late Latin tāliāre; see tailor]

intagliated  [ɪnˈtɑːlɪˌeɪtɪd] adj

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	intaglio - a printing process that uses an etched or engraved plate; the plate is smeared with ink and wiped clean, then the ink left in the recesses makes the print gravure, intaglio printing printing process, printing - reproduction by applying ink to paper as for publication photogravure - printing from an intaglio plate prepared by photographic methods
	2.	intaglio - glyptic art consisting of a sunken or depressed engraving or carving on a stone or gem (as opposed to cameo) diaglyph glyptic art, glyptography - carvings or engravings (especially on precious stones)