WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pen•cil /ˈpɛnsəl/USA pronunciation
n., v., -ciled, -cil•ing or (esp. Brit.) -cilled, -cil•ling.
n.
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n.
- a slender tube of wood, metal, etc., containing a thin piece of graphite, etc., used for writing or drawing: [countable]broke the point on his pencil.[uncountable;
in + ~]Write your answers in pencil. - a stick of cosmetic coloring material for use on the face:[countable]an eyebrow pencil.
v.
- to write, draw, or mark with or as if with a pencil:[~ + object]penciled a note at the end of the memo.
- pencil in, to add, schedule, or list (something) that may be changed, by or as if by writing down in pencil: [~ + in + object]penciled in the names of several players who might be needed if the star was too ill.[~ + object + in]I'll pencil you in for ten o'clock.
pen•cil
(pen′səl),USA pronunciation n., v., -ciled, -cil•ing or (esp. Brit.) -cilled, -cil•ling.
n.
v.t.
pen′cil•er;
[esp. Brit.,] pen′cil•ler, n.
pen′cil•like′, adj.
n.
- 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.
- a stick of cosmetic coloring material for use on the eyebrows, eyelids, etc.
- anything shaped or used like a pencil, as a stick of medicated material:a styptic pencil.
- a narrow set of lines, light rays, or the like, diverging from or converging to a point:a pencil of sunlight.
- a slender, pointed piece of a substance used for marking.
- style or skill in drawing or delineation:He favored the late products of the artist's pencil.
- Mathematicsthe collection of lines, planes, or surfaces passing through a given point or set of points and satisfying a given equation or condition.
- Fine Art[Archaic.]an artist's paintbrush, esp. for fine work.
v.t.
- to write, draw, mark, or color with, or as if with, a pencil.
- to use a pencil on.
- 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.
- Middle French pincel
Latin pēnicillus painter's brush or pencil, diminutive of pēniculus little tail. See penis, -cule1 - Middle English pencel 1350–1400
[esp. Brit.,] pen′cil•ler, n.
pen′cil•like′, adj.