inks

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Colored liquids, or several different kinds of the liquid used for writing, printing, or drawing.

   Grammar: This is the plural of "ink"; use it when talking about more than one type, color, or brand.

   Patterns

   • colored inks
   • printing inks
   • a range of inks

   The artist uses several colored inks in her drawings.

   The store sells pens, paper, and printing inks for home presses.

   These two inks look almost the same on the page but dry differently.

2. 2verbtransitive

   Puts ink on something, especially in a formal agreement or printing process.

   Grammar: Takes an object: ink a stamp, ink a deal.

   Patterns

   • ink something
   • ink a deal

   They inked the contract this morning.

   The machine inks the paper as it moves through the press.

Word forms

Common combinations

colored inks

The shop has a wide range of colored inks for calligraphy.

printing inks

Printing inks must dry quickly on the paper.

ink a deal

The two companies inked a deal last week.

in ink

Please fill out the form in ink, not pencil.

Synonyms and how they differ

dye

"Dye" is used for coloring cloth or hair, while "ink" is for writing and printing.

paint

"Paint" is thicker and used for pictures and walls, not usually for pens.

Word family

ink noun

The singular form: the colored liquid itself.

inky adjective

Covered with ink or as dark as ink.

inkwell noun

A small container that holds ink for a pen.

Commonly confused: inks or inks?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “inks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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