pencil
pen·cil / ˈpensəl/ • n. an instrument for writing or drawing, consisting of a thin stick of graphite or a similar substance enclosed in a long thin piece of wood or fixed in a metal or plastic case. ∎ used to refer to the composition, skill, or style of a drawing: her pencil had captured the dark brooding atmosphere of the place only too well. ∎ graphite or a similar substance used in such a way as a medium for writing or drawing: the words were scribbled in pencil. ∎ a cosmetic in a long thin stick, designed to be applied to a particular part of the face: an eyebrow pencil. ∎ something with the shape of a pencil: a pencil of light | [as adj.] a long pencil beam. ∎ Physics & Geom. a set of light rays, lines, etc., converging to or diverging narrowly from a single point.• v. (-ciled, -cil·ing; Brit. -cilled, -cil·ling) [tr.] write, draw, or color (something) with a pencil: a previous owner has penciled their name inside the cover| [as adj.] (penciled) a penciled note. PHRASAL VERBS: pencil something in1. fill in an area or shape with pencil strokes: a lot of the outlines had been penciled in.2. arrange, forecast, or note down something provisionally or tentatively: May 15 was penciled in as the date for the meeting. ∎ (pencil someone in) make a provisional or tentative arrangement with or for someone: he was penciled in for surgery at the end of the month.DERIVATIVES: pen·cil·er n.