Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
electronic stylus

electronic stylus

4.4
A small pen-like tool used to touch or write on a screen
  • noun
translation icon : stylus electrónico
  • The artist drew directly onto the tablet using an electronic stylus for greater precision.

Examples

  • Many modern smartphones come with an electronic stylus that enhances touchscreen navigation.

  • I bought a new electronic stylus for my tablet.

  • You can make handwritten notes on the computer if you have an electronic stylus.

  • Can you lend me your electronic stylus?

  • The artist used an electronic stylus to create intricate designs on the tablet screen.

  • With an electronic stylus, I can easily annotate documents directly on my tablet.

  • She prefers to take notes using an electronic stylus because it mimics writing on paper.

Synonyms

stylus
vselectronic stylus
9 3.6

A pen-like tool for writing and drawing on a touchscreen or tablet

applies to any device used to interact with electronic displays, not only pen-shaped
light pen
vselectronic stylus
  • Archaic
1 5.6

A handheld tool that you use on a computer screen to point or draw

uses contact sensing and sometimes pressure instead of relying on detecting screen light

How Precise

electronic stylus
4.4
multitouch
  • Specialized
3 3.8
pointer
33 3.7

Surface Forms

electronic stylus singular
electronic styluses plural

Morphology

electronic + stylus

The meaning 'a device used to interact with electronic displays' is directly and transparently derivable from 'electronic' (using electronic technology) modifying 'stylus' (a pen-like input device). This standard adjective+noun composition is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning even if some technical details (e.g., pressure sensitivity) are not specified.

Etymology

The noun electronic stylus comes from joining electronic, meaning 'working with electricity', and stylus, a small pointed 'pen' used to write or draw. Imagine a little pen that uses electricity to touch a screen, so it means 'a pen-like tool for writing, drawing, or controlling a touchscreen'.