pen·cil (pnsl)
n.
1. A narrow, generally cylindrical implement for writing, drawing, or marking, consisting of a thin rod of graphite, colored wax, or similar substance encased in wood or held in a mechanical holder.
2. Something shaped or used like a pencil, especially a narrow medicated or cosmetic stick: an eyebrow pencil.
3.
a. A style or technique in drawing or delineating.
b. Descriptive skill: "His characters are drawn with a strong pencil" (Henry Hallam).
c. An artist's brush, especially a fine one.
4. Physics A beam of radiant energy in the form of a narrow cone or cylinder.
5. Mathematics A family of geometric objects, such as lines, that have a common property, such as passage through a given line in a given plane.
tr.v. pen·ciled also pen·cilled, pen·cil·ing also pen·cil·ling, pen·cils also pen·cils
1. To write or produce by using a pencil.
2. To mark or color with or as if with a pencil.
Phrasal Verb:
pencil in
1. To schedule tentatively: penciled in a staff meeting for 3:00.
2. To schedule a tentative appointment with: penciled him in for lunch next Monday.
[Middle English pencel, artist's brush, from Old French pincel, peincel, from Vulgar Latin *pnicellus, alteration of Latin pnicillus, diminutive of pniculus, diminutive of pnis, tail, brush; see pes- in Indo-European roots.]
pencil·er, pencil·ler n.
pencil [ˈpɛnsəl]
n
1.
a. a thin cylindrical instrument used for writing, drawing, etc., consisting of a rod of graphite or other marking substance, usually either encased in wood and sharpened or held in a mechanical metal device
b. (as modifier) a pencil drawing
2. something similar in shape or function a styptic pencil an eyebrow pencil
3. (Physics / General Physics) a narrow set of lines or rays, such as light rays, diverging from or converging to a point
4. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) Archaic an artist's fine paintbrush
5. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) Rare an artist's individual style or technique in drawing
vb -cils, -cilling, -cilled US, -cils -ciling, -ciled (tr)
1. to draw, colour, or write with a pencil
2. to mark with a pencil
pencil in to note, arrange, include, etc. provisionally or tentatively
[from Old French pincel, from Latin pēnicillus painter's brush, from pēniculus a little tail, from pēnis tail]
penciller US, penciler n