stencil
[ sten-suh l ]
/ ˈstɛn səl /
noun
a device for applying a pattern, design, words, etc., to a surface, consisting of a thin sheet of cardboard, metal, or other material from which figures or letters have been cut out, a coloring substance, ink, etc., being rubbed, brushed, or pressed over the sheet, passing through the perforations and onto the surface.
the letters, designs, etc., produced on a surface by this method.
verb (used with object), sten·ciled, sten·cil·ing or (especially British) sten·cilled, sten·cil·ling.
to mark or paint (a surface) by means of a stencil.
to produce (letters, figures, designs, etc.) by means of a stencil.
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RELATED WORDS
arrangement, trim, motive, diagram, figure, impression, instruction, ornament, guide, decoration, device, plan, mold, original, template
Nearby words
stemwinding, sten, sten gun, stench, stench trap, stencil, stencilize, stendhal, stengah, stengel, stengel, casey
Origin of stencil
1375–1425; earlier stanesile, late Middle English stansele to ornament with diverse colors or spangles < Middle French estanceler, derivative of estencele a spark, ornamental spangle < Vulgar Latin *stincilla, metathetic variant of Latin scintilla scintilla
Related formssten·cil·er; especially British, sten·cil·ler, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for stencil
British Dictionary definitions for stencil
stencil
/ (ˈstɛnsəl) /
noun
a device for applying a design, characters, etc, to a surface, consisting of a thin sheet of plastic, metal, cardboard, etc in which the design or characters have been cut so that ink or paint can be applied through the incisions onto the surface
a decoration, design, or characters produced in this way
verb -cils, -cilling or -cilled or US -cils, -ciling or -ciled (tr)
to mark (a surface) with a stencil
to produce (characters or a design) with a stencil
Derived Formsstenciller, noun
Word Origin for stencil
C14 stanselen to decorate with bright colours, from Old French estenceler, from estencele a spark, from Latin scintilla
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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