Related Searches
Nearby Words

stylus

 [stahy-luhs]   Origin

sty·lus

   [stahy-luhs]
noun, plural -li  [-lahy] , -lus·es.
1.
an instrument of metal, bone, or the like, used by the ancients for writing on waxed tablets, having one end pointed for incising the letters and the other end blunt for rubbing out writing and smoothing the tablet.
2.
any of various pointed, pen-shaped instruments used in drawing, artwork, etc.
3.
Computers. a pen-shaped device used on a display screen to input commands or handwritten text or drawings. Compare joystick (def. 2), mouse (def. 4).
4.
Audio.
a.
Also called cutting stylus. a needle used for cutting grooves in making a disk recording to be played on a phonograph.
b.
a needle for reproducing the sounds of a phonograph record.
5.
any of various pointed wedges used to punch holes in paper or other material, as in writing Braille.
EXPAND
6.
any of various kinds of pens for tracing a line automatically, as on a recording seismograph or electrocardiograph.
COLLAPSE
Stylus Pens www.comparestores.net/2012-Offers Stylus Pens Up To 40% Off Biggest Sale Of 2012 On Now. Save!
Ad
Also, style (for defs. 1, 2).

Origin:
1720–30; < Latin: spelling variant of stilus stake, pointed writing instrument; spelling with -y- from fancied derivation < Greek stŷlos column
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To stylus

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Stylus is always a great word to know.
So is portal. Does it mean:
a Web site that functions as an entry point to the Internet, as by providing useful content and linking to various sites and features
the machine-language output of a compiler or assembler that is ready for execution
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
stylus (ˈstaɪləs)
 
—n , pl -li, -luses
1.  Also called: style a pointed instrument for engraving, drawing, or writing
2.  a tool used in ancient times for writing on wax tablets, which was pointed at one end and blunt at the other for erasing mistakes
3.  a device attached to the cartridge in the pick-up arm of a record player that rests in the groove in the record, transmitting the vibrations to the sensing device in the cartridge. It consists of or is tipped with a hard material, such as diamond or sapphire
 
[C18: from Latin, variant of stilus writing implement; see style]
 
'stylar
 
—adj

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

stylus
1728, "stem-like part of a flower pistil," alteration of L. stilus "stake, stylus;" spelling influenced by Gk. stylos "pillar" (see stet). Meaning "instrument for writing" is from 1807.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

stylus sty·lus (stī'ləs)
n. pl. sty·lus·es or sty·li (-lī)

  1. A pencil-shaped structure.

  2. A pencil-shaped medicinal preparation for external application; as a medicated bougie.

  3. See stylet.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT