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Glite Dictionary
🪡 Engraving tool 🖼️ Engraved print
dry point

dry point

9.5
A steel needle used to engrave a copper plate directly without acid
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : punta seca
  • The artist expertly used a dry point to etch fine details into the copper plate.

Examples

  • The artist used a dry point to create intricate details.

  • A worn dry point can create softer, more expressive lines in the print.

  • Unlike traditional etching, dry point allows for direct engraving without acid.

  • Have you ever tried dry point engraving?

  • The artist expertly used a dry point to etch fine details into the copper plate.

  • Unlike traditional etching, dry point allows for direct engraving without acid.

  • A worn dry point can create softer, more expressive lines in the print.

Synonyms

diamond point
vsdry point
  • Specialized
7.9

A very hard small tip made of diamond that cuts or engraves hard materials

is a softer steel needle used to engrave copper plates without acid

Surface Forms

dry point singular
dry points plural

Morphology

dry + point

The term refers to a specialized printmaking technique (engraving a plate with a needle) that is not inferable from the basic senses of 'dry' (not wet) and 'point' (tip). A B1 learner who knows the constituent words would most likely interpret it literally (a dry tip) and would not predict the technical art meaning without prior exposure, so it is opaque.

Etymology

Dry point names the small, sharp needle artists use to scratch a metal plate directly, without using acid. The word dry shows the plate is left 'dry' and not treated with acid and point means the sharp tool, so the name fits the tool's job.