lithography

Meaning

The process of printing an image by drawing the image with a water-repellent material onto a hard, flat surface (typically metal), then copying the surface by applying water and ink (or the equivalent) to it and pressing another material against it.

Synonyms

lithograph

monotony

slab

flat board

litho

Translations

lithographie

litografía

litografia

Lithographie

litografia

λιθογραφία

litografia

Steindruck

lithografie

taşbaskı

taş baskısı

الطباعة الحجرية

taş basması

flaches Brett

Pronounced as (IPA)

/lɪθˈɒɡɹəfi/

Etymology

From German Lithographie, from λίθος (líthos, “stone”) + γράφειν (gráphein, “to write”). Originally the printing surface was a flat piece of limestone that was treated with grease to form a surface that would selectively transfer ink to the paper; the stone has now been replaced, in general, with a metal plate. By surface analysis, litho- + -graphy.