pencil
(noun) a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
pencil
(noun) a cosmetic in a long thin stick; designed to be applied to a particular part of the face; “an eyebrow pencil”
pencil
(noun) a figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point
pencil
(noun) graphite (or a similar substance) used in such a way as to be a medium of communication; “the words were scribbled in pencil”; “this artist’s favorite medium is pencil”
pencil
(verb) write, draw, or trace with a pencil; “he penciled a figure”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
pencil (plural pencils)
(now, chiefly, historical) A paintbrush. [from 14th c.]
A writing utensil with a graphite (commonly referred to as lead) shaft, usually blended with clay, clad in wood, and sharpened to a taper. [from 16th c.]
(optics) An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point. [from 17th c.]
(geometry) A family of geometric objects with a common property, such as the set of lines that pass through a given point in a projective plane. [from 19th c.]
(medicine, obsolete, rare) A small medicated bougie. [19th c.]
pencil (third-person singular simple present pencils, present participle (US) penciling or (UK) pencilling, simple past and past participle (US) penciled or (UK) pencilled)
(transitive) To write (something) using a pencil.
(transitive) To mark with, or as if with, a pencil.
Source: Wiktionary
Pen"cil, n. Etym: [OF. pincel, F. pinceau, L. penicillum, penicillus, equiv. to peniculus, dim. of penis a tail. Cf. Penicil.]
1. A small, fine brush of hair or bristles used by painters for laying on colors. With subtile pencil depainted was this storie. Chaucer.
2. A slender cylinder or strip of black lead, colored chalk, slate etc., or such a cylinder or strip inserted in a small wooden rod intended to be pointed, or in a case, which forms a handle, -- used for drawing or writing. See Graphite.
3. Hence, figuratively, an artist's ability or peculiar manner; also, in general, the act or occupation of the artist, descriptive writer, etc.
4. (Opt.)
Definition: An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point.
5. (Geom.)
Definition: A number of lines that intersect in one point, the point of intersection being called the pencil point.
6. (Med.)
Definition: A small medicated bougie. Pencil case, a holder for pencil lead.
– Pencil flower (Bot.), an American perennial leguminous herb (Stylosanthes elatior).
– Pencil lead, a slender rod of black lead, or the like, adapted for insertion in a holder.
Pen"cil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penciled or Pencilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Penciling or Pencilling.]
Definition: To write or mark with a pencil; to paint or to draw. Cowper. Where nature pencils butterflies on flowers. Harte.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
28 March 2025
(noun) a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
According to Guinness World Records, on 25 September 2016, the Birla Institute of Management Technology (India) in Uttar Pradesh, India, constructed the largest coffee cups pyramid consisting of 23,821 cups. They used paper takeaway coffee cups to build the pyramid.
