Biro

name, noun

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname from the Slavic languages.
  2. 2
    A brand of ballpoint pen: see biro.
Noun
  1. 1
    A Biro brand ballpoint pen. countable, uncountable

    "Biro MARKS A TURNING POINT IN THE HISTORY OF Writing "BIRO" is unique: it writes with a ballpoint — a point that never goes wrong, never floods, bends or splutters — a point that rolls your writing on to the paper with effortless ease. "BIRO" ink dries as you write; you cannot smudge it; you need no blotter. […] Retail price 55/- including purchase tax"

  2. 2
    a pen that has a small metal ball as the point of transfer of ink to paper wordnet
  3. 3
    Any ballpoint pen. Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, broadly, countable, uncountable

    "Massimo's finger was poised above red on his multi-coloured biro like a kangaroo frozen in headlights."

  4. 4
    Ink from a ballpoint pen. broadly, uncountable

    "‘My very creative 2-year-old son used my good friend′s white polyester Roman blinds as a canvas,’ says Jacqui. They′re now covered in blue biro. And although my friend isn′t too bothered by the biro, I am! Can you help?′"

Etymology

Genericized trademark of BIRO, named after László Bíró, the inventor of the first commercially succesful ballpoint pen.

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: biro