The stylus on a record player is the small needle that picks up the sound signals on the records.
2. countable noun
A stylus is a device like a pen with which you can input written text or drawing directly into a computer.
[computing]
It has a stylus-operated on-screen keyboard that takes great skill to master.
More Synonyms of stylus
stylus in British English
(ˈstaɪləs)
nounWord forms: plural-li (-laɪ) or -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
Derived forms
stylar (ˈstylar)
adjective
Word origin
C18: from Latin, variant of stilus writing implement; see style
stylus in American English
(ˈstaɪləs)
nounWord forms: pluralˈstyluses or ˈstyli (ˈstaɪlaɪ)
1.
a style or other needlelike marking device
2.
any of various pointed tools, as one used for marking mimeograph stencils or one used in Braille embossing
3.
a.
a sharp, pointed device for cutting the grooves of a phonograph record
b.
the short, pointed piece, tipped usually with a sapphire or diamond, that moves in such grooves and transmits vibrations to the cartridge in the pickup of a phonograph
Word origin
L, for stilus, pointed instrument: see style
stylus in American English
(ˈstailəs)
nounWord forms: plural-li (-lai) or -luses
1.
an instrument of metal, bone, or the like, used in the ancient world 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. 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
4.
any of various pointed wedges used to punch holes in paper or other material, as in writing Braille
5.
any of various kinds of pens for tracing a line automatically, as on a recording seismograph or electrocardiograph
Also (for defs. 1, 2): style
Word origin
[1720–30; ‹ L: sp. var. of stilus stake, pointed writing instrument; sp. with -y- from fancied derivation ‹ Gk stŷlos column]
Examples of 'stylus' in a sentence
stylus
Rhodry found he could write well enough with the thin bone stylus the innkeep gave him.
Kerr, Katharine A TIME OF WAR (1993)
At the same time, the stylus began scratching furiously on the scrolling chart.
Stewart, Michael GRACE (1993)
She sketched rapidly with the stylus; not words, but a cartoon.
Niven, Larry & Pournelle, Jerry THE MOAT AROUND MURCHESON'S EYE (1993)
Word lists with
stylus
tool
(noun)
Definition
a needle-like device in the pick-up arm of a record player that rests in the groove in the record and picks up the sound signals