— penciler; esp. Brit., penciller , n. — pencillike , adj.
/pen"seuhl/ , n. , v. , penciled, penciling or ( esp. Brit. ) pencilled, pencilling .
n.
1. a slender tube of wood, metal, plastic, etc., containing a core or strip of graphite, a solid coloring material, or the like, used for writing or drawing.
2. a stick of cosmetic coloring material for use on the eyebrows, eyelids, etc.
3. anything shaped or used like a pencil, as a stick of medicated material: a styptic pencil.
4. a narrow set of lines, light rays, or the like, diverging from or converging to a point: a pencil of sunlight.
5. a slender, pointed piece of a substance used for marking.
6. style or skill in drawing or delineation: He favored the late products of the artist's pencil.
7. Math. the collection of lines, planes, or surfaces passing through a given point or set of points and satisfying a given equation or condition.
8. Archaic. an artist's paintbrush, esp. for fine work.
v.t.
9. to write, draw, mark, or color with, or as if with, a pencil.
10. to use a pencil on.
11. pencil in , to schedule or list tentatively, as or as if by writing down in pencil rather than in ink: I'll pencil you in for ten o'clock.
[ 1350-1400; ME pencel pincel penicillus painter's brush or pencil, dim. of peniculus little tail. See PENIS, -CULE 1 ]