pencils

pen·cil

[pen-suhl] noun, verb, pen·ciled, pen·cil·ing or ( especially British ) pen·cilled, pen·cil·ling.
noun
1.
a slender tube of wood, metal, plastic, etc., containing a core or strip of graphite, a solid coloring material, or the like, used for writing or drawing.
2.
a stick of cosmetic coloring material for use on the eyebrows, eyelids, etc.
3.
anything shaped or used like a pencil, as a stick of medicated material: a styptic pencil.
4.
a narrow set of lines, light rays, or the like, diverging from or converging to a point: a pencil of sunlight.
5.
a slender, pointed piece of a substance used for marking.
6.
style or skill in drawing or delineation: He favored the late products of the artist's pencil.
7.
Mathematics. the collection of lines, planes, or surfaces passing through a given point or set of points and satisfying a given equation or condition.
8.
Archaic. an artist's paintbrush, especially for fine work.
verb (used with object)
9.
to write, draw, mark, or color with, or as if with, a pencil.
10.
to use a pencil on.
00:10
Pencils is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Verb phrases
11.
pencil in, to schedule or list tentatively, as or as if by writing down in pencil rather than in ink: I'll pencil you in for ten o'clock.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English pencel < Middle French pincel ≪ Latin pēnicillus painter's brush or pencil, diminutive of pēniculus little tail. See penis, -cule1

Related forms
pen·cil·er; especially British, pen·cil·ler, noun
pen·cil·like, adjective
un·pen·ciled, adjective
un·pen·cilled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To pencils
Collins
World English Dictionary
pencil (ˈpɛnsəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—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.  a narrow set of lines or rays, such as light rays, diverging from or converging to a point
4.  archaic an artist's fine paintbrush
5.  rare an artist's individual style or technique in drawing
 
—vb , -cils, -cilling, -cilled, -cils, -ciling, -ciled
6.  to draw, colour, or write with a pencil
7.  to mark with a pencil
8.  pencil in to note, arrange, include, etc provisionally or tentatively
 
[C14: from Old French pincel, from Latin pēnicillus painter's brush, from pēniculus a little tail, from pēnis tail]
 
'penciller
 
—n
 
'penciler
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

pencil
late 14c., "an artist's fine brush of camel hair," from O.Fr. pincel "artist's paintbrush" (Fr. pinceau), from L. penicillus "paintbrush, pencil," lit. "little tail," dim. of peniculus "brush," itself a dim. of penis "tail" (see penis). Small brushes formerly used for writing
before modern lead or chalk pencils; meaning "graphite writing implement" apparently evolved late 16c. Derogatory slang pencil-pusher "office worker" is from 1881; pencil neck "weak person" first recorded 1973. To pencil (something) in "arrange tentatively" is attested from 1942.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT