Stylus Meaning
/ˈstaɪ.ləs/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn 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.
nounAn 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.
Sentence Examples
It is possible to write Braille by hand using a slate and a stylus.
Many devices with resistive touchscreens also include a stylus for more precise pointing.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
He used a ____ to draw on the tablet screen yesterday evening.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He used a plastic ____ to write notes on his tablet during the meeting so that he could save paper.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin stylus (“a stake or pale”). Probably not directly related to Ancient Greek στῦλος (stûlos, “a pillar”). Doublet of style.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[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."
— 2013 September 14, Jane Shilling, “The Golden Thread: the Story of Writing, by Ewan Clayton, review”, in The Telegraph:
"But that tactic may have older roots than we thought; archaeologists have discovered an iron stylus in London, complete with an inscribed joke, that dates back nearly 2,000 years.
Of 200 styluses found at a site under Bloomberg’s new European headquarters, only one – dating back to around 70 A.D. – had a message inscribed onto it."
— 2019 July 28, Rob Picheta, “Ancient Roman pen with an inscribed joke found under streets of London”, in CNN:
"Use the stylus to scroll up and down the list or flip through the pages left and right."
— 2008, “PDA”, in Cory in the House: Instruction Booklet, Burbank, California: Disney Interactive Studios; Nintendo, page 10:
"It’s the cheapest stylus Apple’s released yet, but you’ll need a USB-C iPad to use it."
— 2023 October 19, Mike Andronico, “Apple just revealed a new $79 Apple Pencil with USB-C — but is it right for you?”, in CNN:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He used a ____ to draw on the tablet screen yesterday evening.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He used a plastic ____ to write notes on his tablet during the meeting so that he could save paper.