What does imprint mean?

Pronunciation

/ˈɪmplɪnt/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A mark left by something, especially a deliberate or intentional impression, often a physical impression on a surface, or a way of transferring information or marking a new awareness.

Examples

• The astronaut left her footprints on the moon’s surface, an imprint of her historic visit.
• The artist created a painting with an imprint of her own face.

Synonyms

• Mark
• Sign
• Impression

Antonyms

• Remove
• Erase

Etymology

The word “imprint” comes from the Old French “empreinte”, which is derived from the Latin “imprimere”, meaning “to press in”.

Usage Notes

Imprint can be used as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it refers to the mark left by something, while as a verb, it means to leave a mark or impression.

Cultural References

The term “imprint” has been referenced in various forms of media, including literature, film, and music.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Come in for a stamp, leave your imprint

Related Words or Phrases

Mold, pattern, shape, influence

Collocations

make an imprint, leave an imprint, take an imprint, get an imprint

Frequency of Use

Imprint is a relatively common word in modern language, with an average frequency of 0.25 per million words.

Common Misspellings

imprint, imprennt, imprimant, imprinting