tirage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low Frequency / C1-C2Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “tirage” mean?
The act of printing a batch of copies (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of printing a batch of copies (e.g., of a book, magazine, or stamp). The quantity of copies printed in one run.
Can refer to the draw or selection process in a lottery or raffle. In winemaking, it refers to the bottling stage of Champagne/méthode traditionnelle where the liqueur de tirage (sugar and yeast mixture) is added.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The publishing meaning is understood in both, but slightly more common in UK English due to proximity to French. The lottery meaning is almost exclusively found in contexts directly influenced by French, such as Canada.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of specialist, high-quality production or official process.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general use. Higher frequency in specific professional fields like publishing or wine production.
Grammar
How to Use “tirage” in a Sentence
The [publication] had a [adjective] tirage of [number].They decided on a [adjective] tirage for the [item].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tirage” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The first tirage of the commemorative stamps was limited to 10,000 copies.
- The lottery tirage will be held publicly at city hall.
American English
- The art book had a small tirage, making it highly collectible.
- The results of the tirage were announced on the official website.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the business plans of publishers or printers to discuss production costs and volume.
Academic
Appears in scholarly articles on publishing history, bibliography, or oenology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in publishing, philately, and Champagne production.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tirage”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tirage”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tirage”
- Using 'tirage' in general contexts instead of 'print run' or 'draw'.
- Misspelling as 'terrage' or 'tirrage'.
- Mispronouncing with a hard 'g' (/ɡ/) instead of the French soft 'zh' (/ʒ/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency loanword used primarily in specific professional contexts like publishing, stamp collecting, and winemaking.
Yes, this meaning is common in Canadian English and other contexts influenced by French, where 'tirage' translates directly to 'draw' or 'drawing' in a lottery.
An 'edition' refers to all copies of a work published from a single setting of type, which may encompass multiple 'tirages' or print runs. A 'tirage' is one specific batch of printing within an edition.
In Champagne and traditional method sparkling wine production, 'tirage' refers to the bottling stage where the base wine, along with the 'liqueur de tirage' (a mix of sugar and yeast), is bottled to undergo a second fermentation.
The act of printing a batch of copies (e.
Tirage is usually formal / technical in register.
Tirage: in British English it is pronounced /tɪˈrɑːʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /tɪˈrɑːʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tirage' as 'tearing' a page from the press – it's about pulling/printing copies. Or, in a lottery, 'tearing' a ticket from the book for the draw.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRODUCTION IS A PULL (from French 'tirer', to pull or draw).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would you *least* likely encounter the word 'tirage'?