pen: Meaning and Definition of

pen

Pronunciation: (pen), [key]
— n., v., penned, pen•ning.
—n.
  1. any of various instruments for writing or drawing with ink or a similar substance.
  2. a detachable metal penpoint, filled by dipping or with a quill; nib.
  3. such a penpoint with its penholder.
  4. fountain pen.
  5. ball-point pen.
  6. the pen as the instrument of writing or authorship: The pen is mightier than the sword.
  7. a person's style or quality of writing: He writes with a witty, incisive pen.
  8. a writer: I leave this story to abler pens.
  9. the profession of writing: a master of the pen.
    1. a quill.
    2. a pinfeather.
  10. something resembling or suggesting a feather or quill.
  11. an internal, corneous or chitinous, feather-shaped structure in certain cephalopods, as the squid.
—v.t.
  1. to write with or as with a pen; put down in writing: to pen an essay.
  2. to draw with or as with a pen: to pen a sketch.

pen

Pronunciation: (pen), [key]
— n., v., penned pent, pen•ning.
—n.
  1. a small enclosure for domestic animals.
  2. animals so enclosed: We have a pen of twenty sheep.
  3. an enclosure used for confinement or safekeeping: We have built several pens to hold our harvest of corn.
  4. playpen.
  5. See
  6. a dock having a protective concrete structure overhead, used to service and repair submarines.
—v.t.
  1. to confine in or as in a pen.

pen

Pronunciation: (pen), [key]
— n. Slang.
  1. penitentiary (def. 1).

pen

Pronunciation: (pen), [key]
— n.
  1. a female swan.

pen-

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. var. ofbefore a vowel: penannular.

Pen.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. peninsula.

P.E.N.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • pen (Thesaurus)