pen

[ pen ]

/ pɛn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pen ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of various instruments for writing or drawing with ink or a similar substance.

a detachable metal penpoint, filled by dipping or with a quill; nib.

such a penpoint with its penholder.

fountain pen.

ballpoint pen.

the pen as the instrument of writing or authorship: The pen is mightier than the sword.

a person's style or quality of writing: He writes with a witty, incisive pen.

a writer: I leave this story to abler pens.

the profession of writing: a master of the pen.

a pen-shaped device having a cartridge filled with a drug or medication: an insulin pen with disposable needles.

Computers. stylus (def. 3).

Ornithology.

a quill.
a pinfeather.

something resembling or suggesting a feather or quill.

Zoology. an internal, corneous or chitinous, feather-shaped structure in certain cephalopods, as the squid.

verb (used with object), penned, pen·ning.

to write with or as with a pen; put down in writing: to pen an essay.

to draw with or as with a pen: to pen a sketch.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THESE WORDS FROM BROWN GIRL DREAMING!

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Question 1 of 10

What does “barren” mean?

a cylindrical wooden container with slightly bulging sides.

Worn down by dullness, tedious repetition.

unproductive; unfruitful

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Origin of pen

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English penn(e), from Old French penne “pen, feather,” from Late Latin penna “pen,” from Latin penna, pinna “feather, wing”

OTHER WORDS FROM pen

pen·like, adjectivepen·ner, noun

Words nearby pen

pemphigus erythematosus, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus gangrenosus, pemphigus vegetans, pemphigus vulgaris, pen, penal, penal code, penalize, penal servitude, penalty

Definition for pen (2 of 7)

pen²

[ pen ]

/ pɛn /

noun

a small enclosure for domestic animals.

animals so enclosed: We have a pen of twenty sheep.

an enclosure used for confinement or safekeeping: We have built several pens to hold our harvest of corn.

playpen.

bull pen.

a dock having a protective concrete structure overhead, used to service and repair submarines.

verb (used with object), penned or pent, pen·ning.

to confine in or as in a pen.

Origin of pen

First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English penne, Old English penn (in compounds); perhaps akin to pin; (verb) Middle English pennen, derivative of the noun

Definition for pen (3 of 7)

pen³

[ pen ]

/ pɛn /

noun Slang.

penitentiary (def. 1).

Origin of pen

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; shortened form

Definition for pen (4 of 7)

pen⁴

[ pen ]

/ pɛn /

noun

a female swan.

Origin of pen

⁴

First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain

Definition for pen (5 of 7)

pen-

variant of pene- before a vowel: penannular.

Definition for pen (6 of 7)

Pen.

or pen.

peninsula.

Definition for pen (7 of 7)

P.E.N.

International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for pen

So, I had a pen and a pencil and started scribbling and drawing, and I felt good about it.
The Renegade: Robert Downey Sr. on His Classic Films, Son’s Battle with Drugs, and Bill Cosby|Marlow Stern|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Knox wanted to write under a pen name at first, which the paper allowed her to do.
Amanda Knox, Cub Reporter: The Convicted Murderer Is Now Writing Theater Reviews for a Small Seattle Paper|Justin Miller|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The lawyer asserted that an autopsy of Sarbandi showed how the pen knife wound was itself not fatal.
The Real Reason Iran Killed This Woman for Defending Herself|Eli Lake|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jabbari only stabbed him with a pen knife, but did not kill him.
The Real Reason Iran Killed This Woman for Defending Herself|Eli Lake|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Yes, Trainor managed to pen a few songs for Rascal Flatts, but she was more interested in crafting pop tunes.
‘All About That Bass’ Singer Meghan Trainor On Haters and Her Polarizing (and Unlikely) No. 1 Hit|Marlow Stern|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He cannot write a letter without allowing the “seven empty particles” to tyrannize over his pen.
Village Life in China|Arthur H. Smith
Sabine seized the pen greedily and holding it between clenched fingers added a line of significant little lop-sided symbols.
Cape Breton Tales|Harry James Smith
Mr Brass slyly tickles his nose with his pen, and looks at Kit with the water standing in his eyes.
The Old Curiosity Shop|Charles Dickens
She tossed down her pen as her sister entered, and, taking up a blotter, carefully laid it across the page she had been writing.
The Red Seal|Natalie Sumner Lincoln
His death ends the long and crowded Chronicle, though the pen of the writer struggles through a few more unfinished sentences.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for pen (1 of 6)

pen¹

/ (pɛn) /

noun

an implement for writing or drawing using ink, formerly consisting of a sharpened and split quill, and now of a metal nib attached to a holderSee also ballpoint, fountain pen

the writing end of such an implement; nib

style of writing

the pen

writing as an occupation
the written wordthe pen is mightier than the sword

the long horny internal shell of a squid

verb pens, penning or penned

(tr) to write or compose

Word Origin for pen

Old English pinne, from Late Latin penna (quill) pen, from Latin: feather

British Dictionary definitions for pen (2 of 6)

pen²

/ (pɛn) /

noun

an enclosure in which domestic animals are keptsheep pen

any place of confinement

a dock for servicing submarines, esp one having a bombproof roof

verb pens, penning, penned or pent

(tr) to enclose or keep in a pen

Word Origin for pen

Old English penn, perhaps related to pin

British Dictionary definitions for pen (3 of 6)

pen³

/ (pɛn) /

noun

US and Canadian informal short for penitentiary (def. 1)

British Dictionary definitions for pen (4 of 6)

pen⁴

/ (pɛn) /

noun

a female swan

Word Origin for pen

C16: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for pen (5 of 6)

PEN

/ (pɛn) /

n acronym for

International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists

British Dictionary definitions for pen (6 of 6)

Pen.

abbreviation for

Peninsula

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with pen

pen

see slip of the lip (pen).

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pen

noun

verb (used with object), penned, pen·ning.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THESE WORDS FROM BROWN GIRL DREAMING!

Origin of pen

OTHER WORDS FROM pen

Words nearby pen

Definition for pen (2 of 7)

noun

verb (used with object), penned or pent, pen·ning.

Origin of pen

Definition for pen (3 of 7)

noun Slang.

Origin of pen

Definition for pen (4 of 7)

noun

Origin of pen

Definition for pen (5 of 7)

Definition for pen (6 of 7)

or pen.

Definition for pen (7 of 7)

Words related to pen

Example sentences from the Web for pen

British Dictionary definitions for pen (1 of 6)

noun

verb pens, penning or penned

Word Origin for pen

British Dictionary definitions for pen (2 of 6)

noun

verb pens, penning, penned or pent

Word Origin for pen

British Dictionary definitions for pen (3 of 6)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for pen (4 of 6)

noun

Word Origin for pen

British Dictionary definitions for pen (5 of 6)

n acronym for

British Dictionary definitions for pen (6 of 6)

abbreviation for

Idioms and Phrases with pen