stencil
[ sten-suhl ]
/ ˈstɛn səl /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
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 scintillascintilla
OTHER WORDS FROM stencil
sten·cil·er; especially British, sten·cil·ler, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences 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 forms of stencil
stenciller, nounWord 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
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012