stylus
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a pen-shaped tool used to point, draw, or write on a touch screen.
a pen-like input device used to interact with touch-sensitive screens or graphics tablets.
Simple“The artist used a stylus to draw fine lines on her tablet.”
In context“Modern graphic designers often prefer a pressure-sensitive stylus over a mouse for more precise control during digital illustration.”
Synonymsdigital penpointer - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the small, sharp tip on a record player that follows the grooves in a record to make sound.
a small, pointed tip, typically made of diamond or sapphire, that tracks the grooves of a phonograph record to reproduce sound.
Simple“You need to replace the stylus on the record player if the sound becomes fuzzy.”
In context“Audiophiles often invest in high-quality styluses to ensure the most accurate reproduction of the analogue signal from their vinyl collection.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
a small rod with a pointed end used in ancient times for writing on wax or clay.
an ancient writing implement used for scratching characters into wax-covered tablets or clay.
Simple“The museum displayed a Roman stylus found during the excavation.”
In context“Archaeologists discovered several bronze styluses alongside wax tablets, providing evidence of the administrative literacy present in the ancient settlement.”
Synonymsengraverscribe tool - 04 C2 Proficiency
the middle part of a flower's female center that supports the top part where pollen lands.
the elongated part of a carpel between the ovary and the stigma; a variant spelling of 'style'.
Simple“The pollen travels down the stylus to reach the seeds inside the flower.”
In context“In many angiosperms, the length of the stylus is a critical factor in determining which pollen grains successfully fertilise the ovules.”
Synonyms
Borrowed from Latin stylus (“a stake or pale”). Probably not directly related to Ancient Greek στῦλος (stûlos, “a pillar”). Doublet of style.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.