imprint Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a distinctive influence
    • English stills bears the imprint of the Norman invasion
  2. noun a concavity in a surface produced by pressing
    impression; depression.
    • he left the impression of his fingers in the soft mud
  3. noun an identification of a publisher; a publisher's name along with the date and address and edition that is printed at the bottom of the title page
    • the book was published under a distinguished imprint
  4. noun an impression produced by pressure or printing
    embossment.
  5. noun a device produced by pressure on a surface
  6. verb establish or impress firmly in the mind
    form.
    • We imprint our ideas onto our children
  7. verb mark or stamp with or as if with pressure
    impress.
    • To make a batik, you impress a design with wax

WordNet


Im*print" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. emprenten, F. empreint, p. p. of empreindre to imprint, fr. L. imprimere to impres, imprint. See 1st In-, Print, and cf. Impress.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Imptrinted; present participle & verbal noun Imprinting
Definitions
  1. To impress; to mark by pressure; to indent; to stamp.
    And sees his num'rous herds imprint her sands. Prior.
  2. To stamp or mark, as letters on paper, by means of type, plates, stamps, or the like; to print the mark (figures, letters, etc., upon something).
    Nature imprints upon whate'er we see, That has a heart and life in it, "Be free." Cowper.
  3. To fix indelibly or permanently, as in the mind or memory; to impress.
    Ideas of those two different things distinctly imprinted on his mind. Locke.
Im"print noun
Etymology
Cf. F. empreinte impress, stamp. See Imprint, v. t.
Definitions
  1. Whatever is impressed or imprinted; the impress or mark left by something; specifically, the name of the printer or publisher (usually) with the time and place of issue, in the title-page of a book, or on any printed sheet. "That imprint of their hands." Buckle.

Webster 1913