PENCIL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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pencil
1 of 2noun
pen·cil ˈpen(t)-səl Synonyms of pencil 1 : an artist's brush 2 : an artist's individual skill or style 3 a : an implement for writing, drawing, or marking consisting of or containing a slender cylinder or strip of a solid marking substance b : a small medicated or cosmetic roll or stick for local applications 4 : a set of geometric objects each pair of which has a common property the lines in a plane through a point comprise a pencil of lines 5 : something (such as a beam of radiation) long and thin like a pencilpencil
2 of 2verb
penciled or pencilled ; penciling or pencilling ˈpen(t)-s(ə-)liŋtransitive verb
1 : to paint, draw, write, or mark with a pencil 2 : to plan or designate tentatively used with in penciled him in as the nomineeExamples of pencil in a Sentence
Noun Use a pencil instead of a pen so you can erase your mistakes. Verb He penciled some notes on a piece of paper. Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Noun Yet even those sharp pencils might be surprised by some of what can be found among the hidden data in the Excel file. Christopher Helman, Forbes.com , 14 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, Charlotte Tilbury and Jones Road offer brow pencil options with wider tips, ideal for filling in larger sparse areas (plus, Jones Road’s brow pencil shade range includes the perfect one for gray hair). Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue , 10 Apr. 2025 Verb In her place was a much younger person, with dark, warm eyes, thinly pencilled brows, and a wide, shiny forehead. Sarah Stillman, New Yorker , 14 Apr. 2025 In the Tigers’ recent series finale against the New York Yankees, Hinch penciled McKinstry in against tough left-handed pitcher Max Fried, even though McKinstry had only a .379 OPS against lefties last season. Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times , 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pencilWord History
EtymologyNoun
Middle English pensel , from Anglo-French pincel , from Vulgar Latin *penicellus , alteration of Latin penicillus , diminutive of peniculus brush, from diminutive of penis tail, penis
First Known UseNoun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler The first known use of pencil was in the 14th century See more words from the same centuryPhrases Containing pencil
blue pencil eyebrow pencil grease pencil in pencil lead pencil mechanical pencil pencil case pencil in pencil pusher pencil sharpener propelling pencil red - pencil styptic pencilRhymes for pencil
stencil tensile commensal prehensile utensil intercensal See All Rhymes for pencilBrowse Nearby Words
penché pencil pencil and pearl See all Nearby WordsArticles Related to pencil
The Dangerous Creation of 'Limelight,'
Words With Remarkable Origins, Vol. 2Cite this Entry
Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster“Pencil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pencil. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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Kids Definition
pencil
1 of 2 noun pen·cil ˈpen(t)-səl 1 : an instrument for writing, drawing, or marking consisting of or containing a slender cylinder or strip of a solid marking substance 2 : something like a pencil in form or use an eyebrow pencilpencil
2 of 2 verb penciled or pencilled ; penciling or pencilling ˈpen(t)-s(ə-)liŋ : to mark, draw, or write with or as if with a pencil EtymologyNoun
Middle English pensel "an artist's brush, pencil," from early French pincel (same meaning), derived from Latin penicillus, literally, "little tail" — related to penicillin see Word History at 3 pen
Medical Definition
pencil
noun pen·cil ˈpen(t)-səl 1 : a small medicated or cosmetic roll or stick for local applications a menthol pencil 2 : an aggregate of rays of radiation (as light) especially when diverging from or converging to a pointMore from Merriam-Webster on pencil
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pencil
Nglish: Translation of pencil for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pencil
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