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Glite Dictionary
✏️ A writing tool ✏️ To draw or write 🎨 A drawing medium 💄 A makeup stick 🔆 A set of lines
to pencil

to pencil

11 1.0
To write or draw with a thin wooden tool that has a graphite tip
  • verb
  • /ˈpɛnsl/
: escribir a lápiz
  • The artist will pencil a rough sketch before adding color.
  • pencil in a date
  • pencil the names
  • pencil in a few

Examples

Synonyms

to draw
vsto pencil
877 1.0

Make a picture with a pen or pencil

uses a specific small graphite or wooden writing tool for writing or making images
to trace
vsto pencil
41 2.8

To draw lines along the outside of a shape

uses a specific small graphite or wooden writing tool to write or copy outlines
to scribe
vsto pencil
3 7.4

To mark a surface with a sharp point or write something carefully by hand

uses a specific small graphite or wooden writing tool for general writing and marking

Phrasal Verbs

to pencil in
  • Informal
13 3.8

To make a temporary plan that may change later

to blue-pencil
1 8.0

Remove parts of a text to hide sensitive information

to pencil whip
  • Slang
1 9.9

To quickly fill in forms without checking details, often by writing false information

Compounds

pencil sharpener
6 1.0

A small tool that makes the tip of a pencil sharp

pencil pusher
  • Offensive
6 6.0

An office worker who mainly does boring routine paperwork

pencil eraser
4 1.0

A small rubber piece on the end of a pencil that removes marks

pencil-neck
  • Offensive
4 9.9

A person who is thin and seen as weak or nerdy

pencil dick
  • Offensive
3 9.9

A man with a small or thin penis used as an insult

pencil case
3 1.0

A small box or bag for keeping pencils, pens, and erasers

eyebrow pencil
2 2.1

A pencil used to darken and shape the eyebrows

lead pencil
1 1.3

A pencil that uses graphite for writing or drawing

pencil lead
1 2.4

A thin dark core inside a pencil that makes marks on paper

pencil box
  • US
1 1.0

A small box for holding pencils, erasers, and a ruler

slate pencil
  • Archaic
1 9.8

A thin stick of soft stone that people use to write on a slate in old classrooms

pencil cedar
  • Specialized
1 6.3

Wood from an evergreen cedar tree used to make pencils

pencil cedar
  • Specialized
1 6.8

An evergreen tree, like the eastern red cedar, whose wood is used to make pencils

sable's hair pencil
  • Specialized
9.9

A small paint brush with very soft hairs for painting fine details

pencil cedar tree
  • US
6.5

A small evergreen tree that provides wood for making pencils

pencil-necked nerd
  • Offensive
9.9

A shy person who looks thin and likes books

How Thick

to brush
209 1.0
marker
47 1.1
outliner
4.8
pen
501 1.0
to pencil
11 1.0
fineliner
1 4.8

Surface Forms

pencil infinitive
penciled past
penciled past participle
penciling present participle
pencils third person singular

Etymology

Pencil comes from the Latin penicillus, 'little tail', first for a small brush and then for the writing tool, so to pencil something is to mark or draw it lightly with a pencil.