pen
A long, thin object used for writing or drawing with ink
خودکار
Pen and ink
خودکار و جوهر
Oxford Essential Dictionary
pen
noun
1 a thing that you use for writing with a coloured liquid (called ink)
2 a small piece of ground with a fence around it for keeping farm animals in
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
pen
I. pen1 S2 /pen/ BrE AmE noun
[Sense 1,3: Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: penne 'feather, pen', from Latin penna 'feather']
[Sense 2: Language: Old English; Origin: penn]
[Sense 4: Date: 1800-1900; Origin: penitentiary]
1. [uncountable and countable] an instrument for writing or drawing with ink ⇨ pencil, biro:
a ballpoint pen
a felt-tip pen
in pen
Please fill out the form in pen.
a pen and ink drawing
2. [countable] a small piece of land enclosed by a fence to keep farm animals in:
a sheep pen ⇨ ↑playpen
3. put/set pen to paper to begin to write
4. [countable] American English informal a short form of ↑penitentiary
5. [countable] British English informal a ↑penalty, used especially when talking about football
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
pen
pen [pen pens penned penning] noun, verb [pen] [pen]
noun
1. (often in compounds) an instrument made of plastic or metal used for writing with ink
• pen and ink
• a new book from the pen of Martin Amis
see also ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen, fountain pen
2. a small piece of land surrounded by a fence in which farm animals are kept
• a sheep pen
3. (NAmE, slang) = penitentiary
more at a slip of the pen/tongue at slip n.
Word Origin:
n. sense 1 and v. sense 1 Middle English Old French penne Latin penna ‘feather’ late Latin ‘pen’
v. sense 2 and n. sense 2 Old English penn
Example Bank:
• His pen was poised, ready to sign his name.
• I grabbed a pen and began taking notes.
• Let me grab a pen.
• My pen's run out.
• The President has yet to wield his veto pen to block a bill.
• This pen won't write.
• pen and ink drawings
Idioms: pen is mightier than the sword ▪ put pen to paper
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
pen / pen / noun [ C ] (FOR WRITING)
A1 a long, thin object used for writing or drawing with ink:
a fountain/ballpoint/felt-tip pen
Don't write in pen (= using a pen) , or you won't be able to rub out any mistakes you make.
See picture office equipment 2
pen / pen / noun [ C ] (ENCLOSED SPACE)
a small area surrounded by a fence, especially one in which animals are kept:
a sheep/pig pen
→ See also playpen
US slang for penitentiary :
He served nine years in the state pen.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
pen
/pen/
(pens, penning, penned)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A pen is a long thin object which you use to write in ink.
ballpoint pen: see ballpoint
felt-tip pen: see felt-tip
N-COUNT
see also fountain pen
2.
If someone pens a letter, article, or book, they write it. (FORMAL)
She penned a short memo to his private secretary.
VERB: V n to n, also V n n
3.
A pen is also a small area with a fence round it in which farm animals are kept for a short time.
...a holding pen for sheep...
= enclosure
N-COUNT
see also playpen
4.
If people or animals are penned somewhere or are penned up, they are forced to remain in a very small area.
...to drive the cattle back to the house so they could be milked and penned for the night...
I don’t have to stay in my room penned up like a prisoner.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed, V-ed up
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1pen /ˈpɛn/ noun, pl pens : a writing instrument that uses ink
[count]
• She signed her name with a pen.
[noncount]
• She signed her name in pen.
- compare pencil
put/set pen to paper : to write or begin to write something
• She thought about writing a novel for several years before she finally put pen to paper.
- compare 3pen, 5pen
3pen noun, pl pens [count] : a small enclosed area for farm animals
• a sheep pen
- compare 1pen 5pen
pen
5pen noun
the pen US informal : prison
• He was sent to the pen [=the penitentiary] for armed robbery.
- compare 1pen 3pen
