crayon

American  

[krey-on, -uhn] / ˈkreɪ ɒn, -ən /

noun

1. a pointed stick or pencil of colored clay, chalk, wax, etc., used for drawing or coloring.

2. a drawing in crayons.

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verb (used with object)

1. to draw or color with a crayon or crayons.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a drawing with crayons.

crayon British  

/ ˈkreɪən, -ɒn /

noun

1. a small stick or pencil of charcoal, wax, clay, or chalk mixed with coloured pigment

2. a drawing made with crayons

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verb

1. to draw or colour with crayons

Other Word Forms

• crayonist noun

Etymology

Origin of crayon

1635–45; < French, equivalent to craie chalk (< Latin crēta clay, chalk) + -on noun suffix

Example Sentences

A loose 1878 crayon and ink-wash study for an illustration for Émile Zola’s “L’Assommoir” becomes a firmer, more detailed pen, ink and chalk version, made even more solid in the final reproduction.

From The Wall Street Journal

Picture being at a restaurant with a fresh activity kids’ menu and set of crayons.

From MarketWatch

“You are smart and kind,” she wrote in pencil, the handwriting surrounded by crayon hearts.

From The Wall Street Journal

On the second track, “Bumpy,” what sounds like a sonic rendering of an exploding box of crayons leads to a throbbing pulse that could be a sentient computer’s ticking heart.

From The Wall Street Journal

Beowulf packed up his sketch pad and pastel crayons; he was a talented artist and highly skilled at depicting each bird in all its beaked and feathered glory.

From Literature

Related Words

• pastel