What does engrave mean?
Word: Engrave
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Engrave means to cut words or a pattern deep into metal, stone, wood or glass so that they last.
Synonyms: etch, inscribe, chisel
Antonyms: erase, rub out
How do you spell engrave?
Syllables: en - grave
Tricky part: The word ends with the whole of grave, so keep the silent e: dropping it is the slip most pupils make.
Watch out for: engrav, engreve
Memory tip: Engrave rhymes with brave and save, and like them it finishes with a silent e after the v.
Engrave in a sentence
Example 1: The jeweller can engrave both our initials on the back of the watch.
Example 2: Every winner's name is engraved on the brass plate below the trophy.
Example 3: The artist used a fine steel needle to engrave a peacock on the copper sheet.
Fun Fact
The edicts of Emperor Ashoka were engraved on rocks and stone pillars more than 2,200 years ago, and the lion capital from his pillar at Sarnath can still be seen in the museum there.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the prefix that completes the word:
____grave
a) en
b) an
c) un
d) in
Show answer
a) en. En means put into, as in encircle and enclose; the letters are put into the surface.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
engrave
a) carve
b) polish
c) paint
d) smudge
Show answer
a) carve. Engraving cuts into a surface, so carve is closest; painting and polishing only touch the top.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) sculpcher
b) monumant
c) engrave
d) chissel
Show answer
c) engrave. Chisel has one s, monument ends in ment, and sculpture ends in ture.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
enggrave
a) n
b) v
c) g
d) r
Show answer
c) g. The g of grave is written only once, even with en in front of it.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which item is usually engraved?
a) a note in an email
b) a tune on the radio
c) a sum on a whiteboard
d) a name on a medal
Show answer
d) a name on a medal
2. In 'the day was engraved in her memory', engraved means ____.
a) kept secret
b) fixed firmly
c) quickly forgotten
d) written down
Show answer
b) fixed firmly
