Pencil

Pronunciation

IPA: /ËˆpÉ›nsÉ™l/
Rhymes: -É›nsÉ™l

Origin

From Anglo-Norman and Old French pincil (modern pinceau ("paintbrush")), from Latin diminutive peniculus ("brush"), from noun penis ("tail") + diminutive suffix -culus.

Full definition of pencil

Noun

pencil

(plural pencils)

(obsolete) A paintbrush.

1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.0:But living art may not least part expresse,
Nor life-resembling pencill it can paynt ....
1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.17:why is it not lawfull for every man to pourtray himself with his pen, as it was for him to doe it with a pensell?

Writing utensil that uses graphite (commonly referred to as lead). Regular pencils usually have a graphite shaft surrounded by wood. Also available in a mechanical version where the graphite length can be adjusted and sharpening is not needed.
(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.
(optics) An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point.
(medicine, archaic) A small medicated bougie.

Derived terms

Verb

to write something using a pencilI penciled (BrEn: pencilled) it in my notebook.
To tentatively make a booking or appointment.I am very busy today but I can pencil you in at 3 p.m.

Derived terms

pencil in