n. (used with a sing. verb) The art of working metal or other materials by the use of embossing and chasing to form minute detailed reliefs. [From Greek toreutikos, of metal work, from toreutos, worked in relief, from toreuein, to work in relief, from toreus, a boring tool; see terə-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] to·reutic adj. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.