emboss Meaning & Definition
What Does Emboss Mean?
Emboss is used as a verb meaning To cause (something) to stick out or swell; to extrude; also, to cause (someone or something) to be covered in swellings. It can also mean To make (a design on a coin, an ornament on an object, etc.) stand out from a surface. As a noun, it means Synonym of boss (“a knob or projection”).
Quick Facts About Emboss
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ɪmˈbɒs/ |
| Synonyms | stamp and boss |
| Plural | embosses |
| Verb forms | embosses, embossing, embossed |
Emboss Definition (Verb)
- To cause (something) to stick out or swell; to extrude; also, to cause (someone or something) to be covered in swellings.
- To make (a design on a coin, an ornament on an object, etc.) stand out from a surface.
- To represent (a subject) on an object in relief; also, of a design or subject: to stand out on (an object) in relief.
- To decorate or mark (something) with a design or symbol in relief.
The papers weren’t official until the seal had been embossed on them.
- To decorate (something) with bosses (“ornamental convex protuberances”); to boss; hence, to decorate (something) richly.
- To cause (something) to be prominent or stand out. To make (speech, etc.) unduly bombastic or grand.
- To cause (something) to be prominent or stand out.
- To make (speech, etc.) unduly bombastic or grand.
Emboss as a Noun
- Synonym of boss (“a knob or projection”).
Verb
- Of a hunted animal: to take shelter in a forest or wood.
- To drive (a hunted animal) to exhaustion by chasing it; to exhaust; hence, to make (a hunted animal) foam at the mouth due to exhaustion from being chased.
- To cause (an animal's body, a person's mouth, etc.) to be covered with foam. To cause (someone, their heart or soul, etc.) to become extremely fatigued; to exhaust. Of a person: to foam at the mouth; also , to be furious, to rage.
- To cause (an animal's body, a person's mouth, etc.) to be covered with foam.
- To cause (someone, their heart or soul, etc.) to become extremely fatigued; to exhaust.
- Of a person: to foam at the mouth; also , to be furious, to rage.
Verb
- To enclose or suit (a person) in armour.
- To enclose or surround (someone or something).
Verb
- To mark or decorate with a raised design or symbol.
The papers weren't official until the seal had been embossed on them.
- To raise in relief from a surface, as an ornament, a head on a coin, etc.
Verb
- Of a hunted animal: to take shelter in a wood or forest.
- To drive (an animal) to extremity; to exhaust, to make foam at the mouth.
- To hide or conceal in a thicket; to imbosk; to enclose, shelter, or shroud in a wood.
- To surround; to ensheath; to immerse; to beset.
Synonyms of Emboss
Emboss synonyms and antonyms →Emboss in a Sentence
The papers weren’t official until the seal had been embossed on them.
The title was embossed in gold lettering on the cover.
The papers weren't official until the seal had been embossed on them.
Word Forms & Grammar
emboss (third-person singular simple present embosses, present participle embossing, simple past and past participle embossed)
emboss (plural embosses)
Words That Rhyme With Emboss
Origin of Emboss
Origin 1: The verb is derived from Late Middle English embossen, embosen, embocen (“to be bloated; to bulge; to cause to bulge; to ornament in relief, emboss”) [and other forms],[1] from Old French embocer (modern French embosser),[2] from em- (a variant of en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’)) + boce (“swelling”)[3] + -er (suffix forming verbs); boce (“swelling”) is derived from Vulgar Latin *bottia (“a bump”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *bautan (“to beat”), from Proto-Germanic *bautaną (“to beat; to bump, knock; to push”). The English word is analysable as em- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’) + boss (“bump, lump, protuberance”).
Origin 2: The noun is derived from the verb.[4]
Origin 3: From Middle English embosen, embose, enbose (“of game: to become exhausted from hunting”),[5] possibly from em- (a variant of en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’))[6] + Old French bos, bois (“woodland, woods”) (modern French bois)[7] (from Late Latin boscus, Medieval Latin boscus (“woodlands, woods”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *busk (“bush, thicket”), from Proto-Germanic *buskaz (“bush, thicket”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear; to be; to become; to grow”)). Doublet of imbosk (“to conceal or hide (not necessarily in a forest or wood)”).
Origin 4: Etymology 2 sense 2 (“to make (a hunted animal) foam at the mouth”) is probably influenced by emboss (“to decorate (something) with bosses”; etymology 1, verb sense 5), likening the flecks of foam to decorative bosses.[7]
Quick Answers About Emboss
Is emboss a verb or a noun?
Emboss is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for emboss?
Words with a similar meaning to emboss include stamp and boss. See the full list of emboss synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of emboss?
The plural of emboss is embosses.
What is the past tense of emboss?
The past tense of emboss is embossed. The present participle is embossing.