Definition of: pencil

(pen′səl) noun
1. A long, pointed strip of graphite, colored chalk, slate, etc., often encased in wood: used for writing or drawing.
2. A small, finely pointed paint brush: also hair pencil.
3. A set of rays diverging from or converging upon a given point.
4. Skill, as in drawing or painting; the painter's art.
5. A small stick of any substance having caustic or styptic properties.
6. An eyebrow pencil.
—v.t. ·ciled or ·cilled, ·cil·ing or ·cil·ling To mark, write, or draw with or as with a pencil. ♦ Homophone: pencel. [<OF pincel <L penicillum a paint brush, double dim. of penis a tail; infl. by pen¹]
—pen′cil·er or pen′cil·ler noun