Link Centre Dictionary

ink

UK/ˈɪŋk/ US/ˈɪŋk/ fairly common slang
noun (2) verb (2)

noun

1.

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

2.

dark protective fluid ejected into the water by cuttlefish and other cephalopods

verb

1.

append one''s signature to

  • “They inked the contract”
2.

fill with ink

  • “ink a pen”

Origin

From Middle English ynke, from Old French enque, from Latin encaustum (“purple ink used by Roman emperors to sign documents”), from Ancient Greek ἔγκαυστον (énkauston, “burned-in”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + καίω (kaíō, “burn”). In this sense, displaced native Old English blæc (“ink”, literally “black”). Sense four refers to the ink used in newspapers.

Phrases

  • before the ink had time to dry
  • before the ink was dry
  • black as ink
  • bleed red ink
  • China ink
  • digital ink
  • don't dip your pen in company ink
  • gall-nut ink

Related words

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.