ink

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ink

  • /ˈɪŋk/
  • [ˈɪŋk]
  • /ˈiŋk/
  • [ˈiŋk]
  • /ˈæŋk/
  • [ˈæŋk]
  • /ˈeɪ̯ŋk/
  • [ˈeɪ̯ŋk]
  • /ˈɛ̃ŋk/
  • [ˈɛ̃ŋk]

Sounds like inc. · Rhymes with -ɪŋk

Where it comes from

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.

noun inks · inke

  1. uncountable, usually A pigment (or dye)-based fluid used for writing, printing etc. This form should be filled out in ink.
  2. countable, usually A particular type, color or container of this fluid.
  3. uncountable, usually The black or dark-colored fluid ejected by squid, octopus etc, as a protective strategy. Experimentally, some ink has been shown to be unpalatable to fish (Wood et al. 2010) and observationally, ink can also function as an attractant to predators to give cephalopods a bit more time to escape.
  4. slang, uncountable, usually Publicity. to get ink

    Similar: ballyhoo, flak, hoopla, hype, plug, spotlight

  5. slang, uncountable, usually Tattoo work. "I saw it hanging on the wall of a tattoo hut where I went to get some ink done ten years ago," he stuttered, flushing in splotches and squirming in his chair.

    Similar: paint

  6. slang, uncountable, usually Cheap red wine.

verb inks · inking · inked

  1. transitive To apply ink to; to cover or smear with ink. A plain impression is obtained by pressing the bulb of the finger, with the plane of the nail parallel to the plane of the plate, on the inked plate and then on the paper in the same manner.
  2. transitive To sign (a contract or similar document). Before Musk, America’s space industry was moribund. In 2011, NASA mothballed the last space shuttle, after inking a deal with SpaceX to make uncrewed cargo resupply runs to the International Space Station (ISS).

    Similar: endorse, initial, inscribe, subscribe

  3. transitive To apply a tattoo to (someone).
  4. intransitive, of a squid or octopus to eject ink (sense 3)

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: paper, pencil, printer, toner, tattoo, paint, calligraphy, autograph, handwriting, print, tint, dyeing, cassette, dye, wall, canister

Translations

Every language

noun coloured fluid used for writing

Españoltinta
한국어먹물 meongmul, 잉크 ingkeu
日本語インク inku, インキ inki, 墨 sumi
中文墨水 mòshuǐ, 墨 mò
हिन्दीस्याही syāhī
Kiswahiliwino
Portuguêstinta
Françaisencre
DeutschTinte
Italianoinchiostro
Ελληνικάμελάνι meláni
Românăcerneală
Русскийчерни́ла černíla
Tiếng Việtmực
العربيةحِبْر ḥibr, مِدَاد midād
עבריתדְּיוֹ dyo

noun dark fluid ejected by squid etc

Españoltinta
中文墨魚汁 /墨鱼汁 mòyúzhī
Kiswahiliwino
Portuguêstinta
Françaisencre
Italianoinchiostro
Ελληνικάμελάνι meláni
Русскийчерни́ла černíla
Tiếng Việtmực

verb apply ink

Españolentintar
Kiswahiliwino
Portuguêstintar, entintar
Françaisencrer
Italianoinchiostrare

verb sign a document

Portuguêsassinar, firmar
Italianofirmare

verb apply a tattoo

Portuguêstatuar
Italianotatuare

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Cite this
MLA

"ink." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ink. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

ink. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ink

Chicago

"ink." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ink.

BibTeX
@misc{ink_2026,
  title = {ink},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ink},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}