Stylus

/ˈstaɪ.ləs/ noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An ancient writing implement consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on clay, wax-covered tablets or other surfaces, and a blunt end for obliterating them.

    "[T]he pleasure of writing on wax with a stylus is exemplified by the fine, flowing hand of a Roman scribe who made out the birth certificate of Herennia Gemella, born March 128 AD."

  2. 2
    a pointed tool for writing or drawing or engraving wordnet
  3. 3
    An ancient writing implement consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on clay, wax-covered tablets or other surfaces, and a blunt end for obliterating them.; A small implement with a pointed end used for engraving and tracing.
  4. 4
    a sharp pointed device attached to the cartridge of a record player wordnet
  5. 5
    An ancient writing implement consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on clay, wax-covered tablets or other surfaces, and a blunt end for obliterating them.; A small device resembling a pen used to input handwritten text or drawings directly into an electronic device with a touch-sensitive screen.

    "Use the stylus to scroll up and down the list or flip through the pages left and right."

Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    A hard-pointed pen-shaped instrument for marking on stencils used in a mimeograph machine.
  2. 7
    A hard point, typically of diamond or sapphire, following a groove in a phonograph and transmitting the recorded sound for reproduction.
  3. 8
    A hard point, typically of diamond or sapphire, following a groove in a phonograph and transmitting the recorded sound for reproduction.; A pointed device formerly used to produce a groove in a record when recording sound.
  4. 9
    A tool for making small dots on a piece of heavy paper, used to produce Braille writing for the blind by hand.
  5. 10
    Synonym of style.

Synonyms

All synonyms
active stylusaudio sound systemaudiophilebinaural systembitch boxbullhorn

Example

More examples

"It is possible to write Braille by hand using a slate and a stylus."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin stylus (“a stake or pale”). Probably not directly related to Ancient Greek στῦλος (stûlos, “a pillar”). Doublet of style.

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Synonyms

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