Penciling

pen·cil  (pnsl)

n.

1. A narrow, generally cylindrical implement for writing, drawing, or marking, consisting of a thin rod of graphite, colored wax, or similar substance encased in wood or held in a mechanical holder.

2. Something shaped or used like a pencil, especially a narrow medicated or cosmetic stick: an eyebrow pencil.

3.

a. A style or technique in drawing or delineating.

b. Descriptive skill: "His characters are drawn with a strong pencil" (Henry Hallam).

c. An artist's brush, especially a fine one.

4. Physics A beam of radiant energy in the form of a narrow cone or cylinder.

5. Mathematics A family of geometric objects, such as lines, that have a common property, such as passage through a given line in a given plane.

tr.v. pen·ciled also pen·cilled, pen·cil·ing also pen·cil·ling, pen·cils also pen·cils

1. To write or produce by using a pencil.

2. To mark or color with or as if with a pencil.

Phrasal Verb:

pencil in

1. To schedule tentatively: penciled in a staff meeting for 3:00.

2. To schedule a tentative appointment with: penciled him in for lunch next Monday.

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[Middle English pencel, artist's brush, from Old French pincel, peincel, from Vulgar Latin *pnicellus, alteration of Latin pnicillus, diminutive of pniculus, diminutive of pnis, tail, brush; see pes- in Indo-European roots.]

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pencil·er, pencil·ler n.