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- From the verb pen: (⇒ conjugate)
- penning is: ⓘClick the infinitive to see all available inflections
- v pres p
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026pen•ning
(pen′ing),USA pronunciation n. - pitching.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026pen1 /pɛn/USA pronunciation
n., v., penned, pen•ning. n. [countable]
- any of various instruments for writing or drawing with ink.
- the pen as a symbol of writing;
authorship:The pen is mightier than the sword.
v. [~ + object]
- to write or draw with or as if with a pen:to pen an essay.
pen2 /pɛn/USA pronunciation
n., v., penned, pen•ning. n. [countable]
- Animal Husbandrya small fenced-in area for domestic animals.
- a playpen.
- Sportbullpen (defs. 1, 2).
v. [~ + object]
- Animal Husbandryto confine in or as if in a pen:The animals were penned there for weeks.
pen3 /pɛn/USA pronunciation
n.
- Slang Termspenitentiary.
-pen-, root. - -pen- comes from Latin and Greek, where it has the meanings "penalty;
wrong,'' and hence "repent.'' These meanings are found in such words as: impenitent, penal, penalize, penitence, penology, repent, subpoena.
Pen. or pen.,
an abbreviation of:- peninsula.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026pen1
(pen),USA pronunciation n., v., penned, pen•ning. n.
- any of various instruments for writing or drawing with ink or a similar substance.
- a detachable metal penpoint, filled by dipping or with a quill;
nib.
- such a penpoint with its penholder.
- fountain pen.
- ball-point pen.
- the pen as the instrument of writing or authorship:The pen is mightier than the sword.
- a person's style or quality of writing:He writes with a witty, incisive pen.
- a writer:I leave this story to abler pens.
- the profession of writing:a master of the pen.
- [Ornith.]
- Birdsa quill.
- Birdsa pinfeather.
- something resembling or suggesting a feather or quill.
- Zoologyan internal, corneous or chitinous, feather-shaped structure in certain cephalopods, as the squid.
v.t.
- to write with or as with a pen;
put down in writing:to pen an essay.
- to draw with or as with a pen:to pen a sketch.
- Late Latin penna, Latin: feather
- Old French penne pen, feather
- Middle English penne 1250–1300
- Animal Husbandrya small enclosure for domestic animals.
- Animal Husbandryanimals so enclosed:We have a pen of twenty sheep.
- Animal Husbandryan enclosure used for confinement or safekeeping:We have built several pens to hold our harvest of corn.
- playpen.
- See bull pen.
- a dock having a protective concrete structure overhead, used to service and repair submarines.
v.t.
- Animal Husbandryto confine in or as in a pen.
- bef. 1000; (noun, nominal) Middle English penne, Old English penn (in compounds); perh. akin to pin; (verb, verbal) Middle English pennen, derivative of the noun, nominal
- Slang Termspenitentiary (def. 1).
- 1880–85; American; shortened form
- Birdsa female swan.
- origin, originally uncertain 1540–50
- var. of pene- before a vowel:penannular.
Pen., - peninsula.
Also, pen.
P.E.N.,
- International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pen /pɛn/ n - an implement for writing or drawing using ink, formerly consisting of a sharpened and split quill, and now of a metal nib attached to a holder See also ballpoint, fountain pen
- the writing end of such an implement; nib
- style of writing
- the pen ⇒ writing as an occupation
vb (pens, penning, penned)- (transitive) to write or compose
Etymology: Old English pinne, from Late Latin penna (quill) pen, from Latin: feather pen /pɛn/ n - an enclosure in which domestic animals are kept
- any place of confinement
- a dock for servicing submarines, esp one having a bombproof roof
vb (pens, penning, penned, pent)- (transitive) to enclose or keep in a pen
Etymology: Old English penn, perhaps related to pin pen /pɛn/ n - US Canadian informal short for penitentiary
pen /pɛn/ n - a female swan
Etymology: 16th Century: of unknown origin pen /pɛn/ n Brit informal
'penning' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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