Imprint
/ɪmˈprɪnt/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo create a mark or design by pressing something onto a surface; to stamp or impress.
/ɪmˈprɪnt/
To make a mark or impression on a surface.
The dog's paws imprinted in the soft mud.
💡 Simply: Imagine you press your hand on clay. The mark your hand makes is an imprint. So, imprinting is like making a mark by pressing something on something else.
👶 For kids: To make a mark or picture by pressing something on something else, like when you press your hand in mud.
More Examples
She imprinted the company logo on all the new stationary.
The sculptor imprinted the clay with a delicate pattern.
How It's Used
"The artist imprinted her signature on the canvas."
"The fossilized leaf imprinted in the stone provided valuable data."
A mark or pattern that is made by pressing something onto a surface; a lasting influence or effect.
/ˈɪmprɪnt/
A mark or impression made by pressing.
The archaeologist found an imprint of a prehistoric animal in the rock.
💡 Simply: Think of the footprint you leave in sand – that's an imprint! It's the mark left behind.
👶 For kids: A mark or picture that's left behind when you press something on something else, like a footprint in the sand.
More Examples
The tragedy left a deep imprint on the community.
Her childhood experiences left a permanent emotional imprint.
How It's Used
"The imprint of the bone helped paleontologists study the dinosaur."
"Early childhood experiences can leave a lasting imprint on one's personality."
The name of the publisher or the name of a brand of a publishing house, typically printed on the title page or spine of a book.
/ˈɪmprɪnt/
The publisher's name, typically found on a book.
The book was published under the imprint of a small independent press.
💡 Simply: When you see a book, there's often a little note inside saying who printed it – that's the 'imprint'. It's like the book's brand name.
👶 For kids: The name of the company that made a book. It's like a brand name.
More Examples
She searched the book for the imprint to find the publisher's contact information.
The author was excited to have their book published by a prestigious imprint.
How It's Used
"The book was published under the imprint of a well-known publishing house."
Idioms & expressions
leave an imprint
To have a lasting effect or influence.
"Her work as a teacher left an imprint on many students."
From Middle English enprenten, from Old French empreindre, from Latin imprimere ('to press in, impress'), from in- ('in, on') + premere ('to press').
Historically, 'imprint' has been used since the 14th century, originally referring to the act of pressing or stamping. The use of the term for publisher identification began in the 17th century.