pencil /penˈsl/

1. A writing or drawing instrument that leaves a streak of graphite, chalk, slate, or other solid matter, esp (lead pencil) one of graphite enclosed in wood and sharpened as required
2. A small stick of various materials shaped like a lead pencil, for medical, cosmetic, or other purpose
3. A fine paintbrush
4. A small tuft of hairs
5. The art of painting or drawing
6. A system of straight lines meeting in a point (geometry)
7. A set of rays of light diverging from or converging to a point (optics)
8. A narrow beam of light (physics)
9. Something long, fine and narrow in shape

1. To paint, draw, write, or mark with a pencil
2. (with in) to enter provisionally, eg in a diary
3. To note (something) allowing for or expecting later alteration (figurative)
4. To apply a pencil to

penˈcilled adjective

1. Painted, drawn, written or marked with a pencil
2. Marked as if with a pencil
3. Showing fine concentric streaking
4. Having pencils of rays
5. Radiated
6. Tufted

penˈciller noun

penˈcilling noun

1. The art or act of painting, writing, sketching, or marking with a pencil
2. Marks made with a pencil
3. Fine lines on flowers or feathers
4. A sketch
5. The marking of joints in brickwork with white painting

penˈcil-case noun

1. A case for pencils
2. A metal case used to hold a movable piece of blacklead or the like, used as a pencil

penˈcil-ceˈdar noun

Juniper of various kinds suitable for lead pencils

penˈcil-comˈpass noun

A compass having a pencil on one of its legs

penˈcil-lead noun

1. Graphite for pencils
2. A stick of it for a metal pencil-case

pencil moustache noun

An extremely thin moustache

penˈcil-ore noun

Radiating botryoidal graphite

penˈcil-pusher same as pen-pusher (see under pen¹).

• lad
• ladanum
• ladanums
• ladder
• ladder-back
• ladder-backs
• laddered
• laddering
• ladders
• ladder tournament
• ladder tournaments
• laddery
• laddie
• laddies
• laddish
• laddishness
• laddishnesses
• laddism
• laddisms
• lade
• laded
• laden
• lades
• ladette
• ladettes