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

Instead, chip firms in the country have opted to order ASML’s deep ultra violet lithography, or DUV machines. —Ryan Browne, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2024

For the all-important lithography machines, used for printing patterns on silicon wafers, and metrology equipment, used for quality control in a production process that demands hundreds of steps, Chinese firms rely overwhelmingly on imports from Japan, the United States, and Europe. —Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023

The Dutch company, which sells expensive lithography machines used in the chip production process, said the biggest issues were in the non-AI parts of the semiconductor industry. —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024

One focal point of those discussions was the Dutch firm ASML, which is the only company in the world that makes the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines used to etch microscopic patterns into leading-edge chips. —Issie Lapowsky, WIRED, 10 Oct. 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