I. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from gerund of writen to write — more at write
1. : the act or process of one who writes
with one writing , copies may be made — E.M.Robinson
as
a. : the act or art of forming letters on stone, paper, wood, or other suitable medium to record the ideas which characters and words express or to communicate the ideas by visible signs : the use of characters to record in visible form words or sounds
if writing were not to be done on stone with a chisel but on wood or papyrus — Georg Steindorff & K.C.Seele
writing on the air with the index finger … took the place of pad and pencil — Caroline Yale
specifically : handwriting 1
b. : the act or practice of literary, journalistic, or other composition in words
engaged in the writing of a novel
also : the act or practice of musical composition
his adroit writing for the keyboard — Arthur Berger
2. : something written: as
a. : letters or characters formed on a surface that serve as visible signs of ideas, words, or symbols
alphabetic writing
cuneiform writing
syllabic writing
do you recognize the writing
b. : a letter, note, or notice used to communicate or record information
c.
(1) : a written composition : a book, pamphlet, poem, article, or other literary production : publication
his biographies and writings on medical subjects — Current Biography
a wide variety of writings about literature — C.W.Shumaker
his collected writings in 10 volumes
(2) : a musical composition
(3) : a literary, artistic, or musical composition (as a novel or sculpture) that can be copyrighted
d. : inscription
e.
(1) : a written or printed paper or document (as a deed, contract, pleading in court)
(2) : an impression of characters on paper or other substance by printing, photography, pencil, pen and ink, or other means
3. : a style or form of composition : a manner of literary or musical expression
straightforward narrative interspersed with passages in baroque writing
4. : the occupation of a writer ; especially : the profession of authorship
•
- writing on the wall
II. adjective
1.
[ writing (I) ]
: of, relating to, or used in or for writing
writing table
writing pad
2.
[from present participle of write (I) ]
: engaged in writing