pencil

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A narrow, generally cylindrical implement for writing, drawing, or marking, consisting of a thin rod of graphite, colored wax, or similar substance encased in wood or held in a mechanical holder.
2. n. Something shaped or used like a pencil, especially a narrow medicated or cosmetic stick: an eyebrow pencil.
3. n. A style or technique in drawing or delineating.
4. n. Descriptive skill: "His characters are drawn with a strong pencil” ( Henry Hallam).
5. n. An artist's brush, especially a fine one.
6. n. Physics A beam of radiant energy in the form of narrow cone or cylinder.
7. n. Mathematics A family of geometric objects, such as lines, that have a common property, such as passage through a given line in a given plane.
8. v. To write or produce by using a pencil.
9. v. To mark or color with or as if with a pencil.
10. pencil in To schedule tentatively: penciled in a staff meeting for 3:00.
11. pencil in To schedule a tentative appointment with: penciled him in for lunch next Monday.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A small fine brush, such as may be used by a painter in laying on paints; technically, a special type of pointed brush the hairs of which are held by a quill ferrule with a wooden handle which is often detachable. The hair may be sable, fitch, camel's hair, or ox-hair, and may be brought to a point or be square on the ends. Such brushes are used in water-color and miniature painting, lettering, striping, and ornamenting.
2. n. Figuratively, the art of painting; also, skill in painting or delineation; style of delineation.
3. n. An instrument for marking, drawing, or writing, formed of graphite, colored chalk, or a material of similar properties, and having a tapering end; specifically, a thin strip of such substance in closed in a cylinder of soft wood or in a metal case with a tapering end.
4. n. Writing done with a pencil, as distinguished from that done with ink: as, a note written in pencil.
5. n. In optics, all the rays of light which diverge from or converge to a given point.
6. n. In geometry, the figure formed by a number of lines which meet in one point.
7. n. In zoology, a tuft or little brush, as of hair or feathers. Also called penicillium.
8. n. See the adjectives.
9. To paint or draw; execute with a pencil or in pencil; mark with penciling or as with a pencil: as, finely penciled eyebrows.
10. To write with a pencil.
11. n. See pencel.
12. In medicine, to apply a remedy to (an inflamed spot, etc.) with a fine brush: as, to pencil a wound with lunar caustic.

Wiktionary

1. n. obsolete A paintbrush.
2. n. Writing utensil that uses graphite (commonly referred to as lead). Regular pencils usually have a graphite shaft surrounded by wood. Also available in a mechanical version where the graphite length can be adjusted and sharpening is not needed.
3. n. geometry A family of geometric objects with a common property, such as the set of lines that pass through a given point in a projective plane.
4. v. to write something using a pencil
5. v. To tentatively make a booking or appointment.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A small, fine brush of hair or bristles used by painters for laying on colors.
2. n. A slender cylinder or strip of black lead, graphite, colored chalk, slate etc., or such a cylinder or strip inserted in a small wooden rod intended to be pointed, or in a case, which forms a handle, -- used for drawing or writing. See Graphite.
3. n. Hence, figuratively, an artist's ability or peculiar manner; also, in general, the act or occupation of the artist, descriptive writer, etc.
4. n. (Opt.) An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point.
5. n. (Geom.) A number of lines that intersect in one point, the point of intersection being called the pencil point.
6. n. (Med.) A small medicated bougie.
7. v. To write or mark with a pencil; to paint or to draw.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. graphite (or a similar substance) used in such a way as to be a medium of communication
2. n. a figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point
3. n. a cosmetic in a long thin stick; designed to be applied to a particular part of the face
4. n. a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
5. v. write, draw, or trace with a pencil