tinta
1. a colored liquid used for writing, printing, or drawing
I need to buy black ink for my printer.
Preciso comprar tinta preta para minha impressora.
2. to mark or write something with ink
She inked her signature on the contract.
Ela marcou sua assinatura com tinta no contrato.
3. a dark liquid secreted by cephalopods (squid, octopus) as a defense mechanism
The octopus released a cloud of ink to escape the predator.
O polvo liberou uma nuvem de tinta para escapar do predador.
4. in tattoo culture, the pigment used to create a tattoo
The artist used high-quality ink for the tattoo.
O artista usou tinta de alta qualidade para a tatuagem.
In Brazil, 'tinta' is universally understood for writing and printing ink. In tattoo culture, both English speakers and Brazilians often use 'ink' or 'tinta' interchangeably. The phrase 'getting inked' is recognized in both cultures as getting a tattoo. In historical contexts, ink represents permanence and official documentation, reflecting cultural values around written agreements.
NYC Slang
ink (as in getting inked = getting a tattoo); used colloquially in tattoo parlors
Related Idioms & Phrases
spill ink - to write or publish something
ink deal - to finalize a business agreement by signing
printer's ink - journalism or the news industry
in black and white (ink) - in writing, officially documented
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