PENCIL (pencilled, pencilling)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: pencilled    , pencilling   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pencil mean? 

• PENCIL (noun)
  The noun PENCIL has 4 senses:

1. a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood

2. graphite (or a similar substance) used in such a way as to be a medium of communication

3. a figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point

4. a cosmetic in a long thin stick; designed to be applied to a particular part of the face

  Familiarity information: PENCIL used as a noun is uncommon.

• PENCIL (verb)
  The verb PENCIL has 1 sense:

1. write, draw, or trace with a pencil

  Familiarity information: PENCIL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PENCIL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("pencil" is a kind of...):

writing implement (an implement that is used to write)

Meronyms (parts of "pencil"):

point (sharp end)

pencil eraser; rubber; rubber eraser (an eraser made of rubber (or of a synthetic material with properties similar to rubber); commonly mounted at one end of a pencil)

peak; point; tip (a V shape)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pencil"):

lead pencil (pencil that has graphite as the marking substance)

slate pencil (a pencil of soft slate (or soapstone) used for writing on a slate)

Derivation:

pencil (write, draw, or trace with a pencil)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Graphite (or a similar substance) used in such a way as to be a medium of communication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Context example:

this artist's favorite medium is pencil

Hypernyms ("pencil" is a kind of...):

black lead; graphite; plumbago (used as a lubricant and as a moderator in nuclear reactors)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("pencil" is a kind of...):

figure (a combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape)

Domain category:

geometry (the pure mathematics of points and lines and curves and surfaces)

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A cosmetic in a long thin stick; designed to be applied to a particular part of the face

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

an eyebrow pencil

Hypernyms ("pencil" is a kind of...):

cosmetic (a toiletry designed to beautify the body)

• PENCIL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they pencil    ... he / she / it pencils   
Past simple: penciled    / pencilled   
Past participle: penciled    / pencilled   
-ing form: penciling    / pencilling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Write, draw, or trace with a pencil

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

he penciled a figure

Hypernyms (to "pencil" is one way to...):

draw (represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface)

"Pencil" entails doing...:

delineate; describe; draw; line; trace (make a mark or lines on a surface)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

pencil (a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood)

 Context examples 

I think it contains a colour-box, pencils, and paper.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Now, then, give him the pencil.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Evidently the rascal had copied the paper in a great hurry, had broken his pencil, and had been compelled to put a fresh point to it.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The master thought of writing a note, but searched his pockets vainly for pencil and paper.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

At length the same boy reappeared, and presented me with a note written in pencil, and headed, in a legal manner, “Heep v. Micawber”.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The pencil dropped, and we had to replace it in the hand.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Give me a pencil and that slip of paper.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We will provide ourselves with tablets and a pencil.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I have not a word to say for the bit of old pencil, but the court-plaister might be useful.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Yes, sir; prints it in pencil.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)