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

“It was a big opportunity to come to America because Korea is very small,” Han says in Korean while continuing to draft with his nubby yellow #2 pencil.

From Los Angeles Times

For those who worry that the veins popping out on Stephen Miller’s pencil neck would undermine the diplomatic role of a president, she is presenting herself as calming presence who will make everything okay.

From Salon

The narrator watches a slave owner beat and hang a Black man who stole a pencil so that James could write something.

From Salon

Also references to knife fights and Democrats showing up with pencils, rubber bands, butter knives and other wimpy implements.

From Los Angeles Times

Using the tip of a sharpened pencil, I delicately push the minute hand of the watch around in a circle, though the hour hand is unmovable, permanently pointing at 11 o’clock.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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