To engrave means to cut or carve words, designs, or images into a hard surface like metal, wood, stone, or glass. An engraver uses sharp tools to scratch permanent marks into the material, creating text or pictures that won't wear away easily.

You've probably seen engraved trophies with winners' names carved into brass plates, or jewelry with initials engraved on the back. Wedding rings often have dates or messages engraved inside the band. Gravestones are engraved with names and dates that can last for centuries.

Before printing presses became common, engravers carved images into metal plates, then pressed the plates onto paper to create multiple copies of the same picture. This was how books got their illustrations for hundreds of years.

The word can also mean leaving a deep, lasting impression on your memory or feelings. A powerful experience might be engraved on your mind, meaning you'll remember it vividly forever, as if the memory has been carved into your thoughts. When someone says a moment was engraved in their memory, they mean it made such an impact that they'll never forget it.