printing
UK[ˈprɪntɪŋ]US[ˈprɪntɪŋ]
n
The process or business of producing books, newspapers, etc., by pressing inked type or plates onto paper or other material.
n
All the copies of a book, newspaper, etc., printed at one time; an impression.
n
Writing produced by pressing inked letters or characters onto a surface.
Morpheme Breakdown
print
ing
print
to press
ing
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'printing' is built upon the core verb 'print', which entered English via Old French from the Latin verb 'premere', meaning "to press." The addition of the Germanic suffix '-ing' transforms the action into a noun denoting the process, industry, or result of that action. Thus, the literal morphemic logic is "the process of pressing," which perfectly captures the mechanical essence of the traditional technique where inked surfaces are pressed onto paper. This concrete meaning has extended to encompass the broader business and technological field of producing text and images.
Analysis
Structure: print (to press) + ing (noun suffix)
'print' (from Old French 'preinte', meaning impression, mark; ultimately from Latin 'premere', to press). 'ing' (a native English suffix forming verbal nouns, indicating action, process, or result).
Examples
The invention of the printing press revolutionized the spread of knowledge.
The book is already in its third printing.
His handwriting is so neat it looks like printing.