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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

ink.

A pigment (or dye)-based fluid used for writing, printing etc.

3 characters1 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈɪŋk/[ˈɪŋk]/ˈiŋk/[ˈiŋk]

  1. A pigment (or dye)-based fluid used for writing, printing etc.

    uncountable · usually
    This form should be filled out in ink.

  2. A particular type, color or container of this fluid.

    countable · usually

  3. The black or dark-colored fluid ejected by squid, octopus etc, as a protective strategy.

    uncountable · usually

  4. Publicity.

    slang · uncountable · usually
    to get ink
    The TSA has been getting a lot of ink lately.

  5. Tattoo work.

    slang · uncountable · usually

  6. Cheap red wine.

    slang · uncountable · usually
Where this word 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.

verb/ˈɪŋk/[ˈɪŋk]/ˈiŋk/[ˈiŋk]

  1. To apply ink to; to cover or smear with ink.

    transitive

  2. To sign (a contract or similar document).

    transitive

  3. To apply a tattoo to (someone).

    transitive

  4. to eject ink (sense 3)

    intransitive
Where this word 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.

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.