pencil

[pen-suhl]

noun

1. a slender tube of wood, metal, plastic, etc., containing a core or strip of graphite, a solid coloring material, or the like, used for writing or drawing.

2. a stick of cosmetic coloring material for use on the eyebrows, eyelids, etc.

3. anything shaped or used like a pencil, as a stick of medicated material.

   a styptic pencil.

4. a narrow set of lines, light rays, or the like, diverging from or converging to a point.

   a pencil of sunlight.

5. a slender, pointed piece of a substance used for marking.

6. style or skill in drawing or delineation.

   He favored the late products of the artist's pencil.

7. Mathematics.,  the collection of lines, planes, or surfaces passing through a given point or set of points and satisfying a given equation or condition.

8. Archaic.,  an artist's paintbrush, especially for fine work.

verb (used with object)

penciled, penciling , pencilled, pencilling .

1. to write, draw, mark, or color with, or as if with, a pencil.

2. to use a pencil on.

verb phrase

1. pencil in,  to schedule or list tentatively, as or as if by writing down in pencil rather than in ink.

   I'll pencil you in for ten o'clock.

pencil

/ ˈpɛnsəl /

noun

1. 1. a thin cylindrical instrument used for writing, drawing, etc, consisting of a rod of graphite or other marking substance, usually either encased in wood and sharpened or held in a mechanical metal device

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pencil drawing

2. something similar in shape or function

   a styptic pencil

   an eyebrow pencil

3. a narrow set of lines or rays, such as light rays, diverging from or converging to a point

4. archaic,  an artist's fine paintbrush

5. rare,  an artist's individual style or technique in drawing

verb

1. to draw, colour, or write with a pencil

2. to mark with a pencil

3. to note, arrange, include, etc provisionally or tentatively

Other Word Forms

• penciler noun
• pencillike adjective
• unpenciled adjective
• unpencilled adjective
• penciller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pencil¹

1350–1400; Middle English pencel < Middle French pincel ≪ Latin pēnicillus painter's brush or pencil, diminutive of pēniculus little tail. See penis, -cule ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pencil¹

C14: from Old French pincel, from Latin pēnicillus painter's brush, from pēniculus a little tail, from pēnis tail

Idioms and Phrases

see put lead in one's pencil.

Example Sentences

As if unwilling to reveal anything of his inner self, Dillon kept his desktop bare save for a pencil, a notebook and a telephone.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Stephen Sondheim was so good at crosswords that he considered it cheating to use a pencil—or a pen.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In their latest projections of the economy’s performance, and what comes next for interest rates, published in September, 10 officials penciled in one more cut in December, while nine anticipated none.

Read more on Barron's

Penelope bit her pencil stub and frowned, for she had decided to tackle the Russia/England problem herself.

Read more on Literature

Beowulf and Alexander stretched out on the rug next to each other, with paper, pencils, and watercolor paints nearby.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• address 
• compose 
• create 
• draft 
• note 
• pen 
• print 
• record 
• rewrite 
• scrawl 
• scribble 
• sign 
• tell