1. [uncountable] the work of producing books, newspapers etc on a machine that puts words, numbers, pictures etc onto the surface of paper:
• Thomson is a printing and publishing concern.
• The firm has access to printing and typesetting facilities throughout the UK.
2. [countable] the act of printing a number of copies of a book:
• The book is already in its fourth printing (= it has been printed four times ) .
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printing UK US /ˈprɪntɪŋ/ noun
► [U] the activity or business of producing writing and images on paper or other material with a machine: »
All information is correct at the time of printing.
»We import large quantities of paper for the printing of textbooks.
»colour/digital printing
»a printing business/firm/plant
► [C] a number of copies of a particular book, newspaper, etc. that are produced at one time: a printing of 10/600/75,000, etc. copies »
Her latest novel has been published in a printing of 500,000 copies.
Financial and business terms. 2012.