■ verb ( past wrote ; past participle written )
1》 mark (letters, words, or other symbols) on a surface, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement.
↘have the ability to do this: he couldn't read or ~.
↘fill out or complete in writing.
↘( ~ something up ) ~ a full or formal account of something.
↘ Canadian & S. African take (an exam or test).
2》 ~ in a cursive hand, as opposed to printing individual letters.
3》 ~ and send (a letter) to someone.
↘ chiefly N. Amer. ~ and send a letter to (someone).
4》 compose (a text or work) in writing.
↘compose (a musical work).
↘ archaic describe in writing.
5》 Computing enter (data) into a specified storage medium or location in store.
6》 under~ (an insurance policy).
Phrases
be written all over one's face informal be obvious from one's expression.
( and ) that's all she wrote N. Amer. informal there is nothing more to be said.
Phrasal verbs
~ something down reduce the nominal value of stock or goods.
~ someone in chiefly US (when voting) add the name of someone not on the original list of candidates and vote for them.
~ something off
1》 ( ~ someone/thing off ) dismiss someone or something as insignificant.
2》 cancel the record of a bad debt; acknowledge the failure to recover an asset.
3》 Brit. damage a vehicle so badly that it cannot be repaired.
Derivatives
writable adjective ( chiefly Computing ).
Origin
OE wrītan 'score, form letters by carving, ~', of Gmc origin.