- something inscribed, esp words carved or engraved on a coin, tomb, etc
- a signature or brief dedication in a book or on a work of art
- the act of inscribing
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•scrip•tive
(in skrip′tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
in•scrip′tive•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- of, pertaining to, or of the nature of an inscription.
- Latin inscrīpt(us) past participle of inscrībere (see inscription) + -ive
- 1730–40
in•scrip•tion /ɪnˈskrɪpʃən/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the words, characters, or letters inscribed on a surface:an inscription on the ring.
in•scrip•tion
(in skrip′shən),USA pronunciation n.
in•scrip′tion•al, adj.
in•scrip′tion•less, adj.
- something inscribed.
- a historical, religious, or other record cut, impressed, painted, or written on stone, brick, metal, or other hard surface.
- a brief, usually informal dedication, as of a book or a work of art.
- a note, as a dedication, that is written and signed by hand in a book.
- the act of inscribing.
- Drugs[Pharm.]the part of a prescription indicating the drugs and the amounts to be mixed.
- Business[Brit.]
- an issue of securities or stocks.
- a block of shares in a stock, as bought or sold by one person.
- CurrencyAlso called legend. [Numis.]the lettering in the field of a coin, medal, etc.
- Latin inscrīptiōn- (stem of inscrīptiō), equivalent. to inscrīpt(us) (past participle of inscrībere to inscribe) + -iōn- -ion
- Middle English inscripcio(u)n 1350–1400
in•scrip′tion•less, adj.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
inscription /ɪnˈskrɪpʃən/ n