Pen
/pɛn/
Definitions
3 meaningsA writing instrument that uses ink.
/pɛn/
An instrument for writing or drawing with ink.
He signed the document with a ballpoint pen.
💡 Simply: A pen is like a magic wand that lets you write words and draw pictures! It's something you hold in your hand to make marks on paper with ink. Like, if you want to tell your friend a secret, you can write it down with a pen!
👶 For kids: A pen is what you use to write on paper!
More Examples
Could you lend me a pen, please?
She preferred using a fountain pen for its smooth writing experience.
How It's Used
"She wrote a letter with a blue pen."
"Students need to bring a pen and paper to class."
An enclosure for holding or confining animals.
/pɛn/
An enclosure for animals.
The farmer put the pigs in the pen.
💡 Simply: Imagine a little house made of fences for animals! Like, if you have a pet chicken, you might keep it in a pen outside!
👶 For kids: A pen is a fenced-in place where animals live.
More Examples
The children enjoyed watching the lambs in the pen.
A pen was built to house the new baby goats.
How It's Used
"The farmer kept the sheep in a pen."
"The zoo had a pen for the penguins."
To write or compose something.
/pɛn/
The author is currently penning a new novel.
💡 Simply: To pen something is like carefully writing it down. Like if you wrote a song, you could say you penned it.
👶 For kids: To pen is to write something.
More Examples
He penned a heartfelt apology to his friend.
She penned a letter of complaint to the company.
How It's Used
"She penned a beautiful poem about nature."
"The journalist penned an article about the political situation."
Idioms & expressions
the pen is mightier than the sword
The power of words and writing is more effective than violence or force.
"The journalist's investigative report proved that the pen is mightier than the sword."
put pen to paper
To begin writing; to start a written composition.
"After thinking about it for a week, she finally put pen to paper and started writing her memoir."
From Old English *penn*, from Latin *penna* meaning 'feather, quill'. Originally referring to a writing implement made from a bird's feather, it later came to denote writing instruments made of metal or plastic.
The word 'pen' has been used since the early Middle English period, initially referring to writing implements made from feathers.
Memory tip
Think of a bird's feather used for writing long ago. It evolved into the pens we use today.
Word Origin
"feather, quill"