Pencil

/ˈpɛnsl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A writing instrument composed of a thin stick of graphite or a similar substance, enclosed in a wooden or plastic casing.

She wrote her notes in a pencil to avoid making permanent mistakes.

A similar instrument used for drawing, usually with varied types of lead or materials.

The artist picked up a pencil to sketch a new design.

A particular size or style of pencil.

He prefers using a 2B pencil for shading in his drawings.

verb

To write or draw with a pencil.

Please pencil in your name on the sign-up sheet.

To make a tentative appointment or plan.

Let's pencil in a meeting for next week and confirm it later.

From Middle English 'pensel', from Old French 'pincel', from Latin 'penicillus', meaning 'little tail'.

pencil it in

To make a preliminary appointment or note that may change.

in pencil

Written lightly, able to be erased.

pencil drawn

Created or depicted using just a pencil, often referring to sketches.

eraser

A tool used to remove pencil marks.

sketch

A quickly drawn representation using pencils.

graphite

The material commonly used as the core of pencils.

Pencil pushers

That meeting is full of pencil pushers who love to overanalyze everything.

Pencil it in

I'll pencil it in for now, but let's see if we can confirm later.