lithography

noun

li·​thog·​ra·​phy li-ˈthä-grə-fē 

1

: the process of printing from a plane surface (such as a smooth stone or metal plate) on which the image to be printed is ink-receptive and the blank area ink-repellent

2

: the process of producing patterns on semiconductor crystals for use as integrated circuits

Examples of lithography in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Joint Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) coronal Diagnostic Investigation, also known as JEDI, has an even bigger task to balance the force in space, giving researchers a brand-new view of the sun's atmosphere. —Meredith Garofalo, Space.com, 15 Feb. 2025

Visitors to the Harvard Art Museums will also witness how Munch experimented with different combinations of lithography, hand-coloring and woodblocks over several versions of Vampire II and Madonna. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025

Nano-Imprint lithography: smaller, cheaper NIL starts with a process that’s like photolithography’s. —IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2025

This nano imprint lithography technology is not new, actually. —Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

litho- + -graphy, after French lithographie or German Lithographie (now Lithografie)

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lithography

noun

li·​thog·​ra·​phy lith-ˈäg-rə-fē 

: a method of printing from a flat surface (as a smooth stone or metal plate) that has been prepared in such a way that only the areas meant to print will take ink