stylus

[ stahy-luhs ]

noun

, plural sty·li [stahy, -lahy], sty·lus·es.

1. an instrument of metal, bone, or the like, used by the ancients for writing on waxed tablets, having one end pointed for incising the letters and the other end blunt for rubbing out writing and smoothing the tablet.
2. any of various pointed, pen-shaped instruments used in drawing, artwork, etc.
3. Computers. a pen-shaped device used on a display screen to input commands or handwritten text or drawings. Compare joystick ( def 2 ), mouse ( def 4 ).
4. Audio.
   1. Also called cutting stylus. a needle used for cutting grooves in making a disk recording to be played on a phonograph.
   2. a needle for reproducing the sounds of a phonograph record.
5. any of various pointed wedges used to punch holes in paper or other material, as in writing Braille.
6. any of various kinds of pens for tracing a line automatically, as on a recording seismograph or electrocardiograph.

stylus

/ ˈstaɪləs /

noun

1. Also calledstyle a pointed instrument for engraving, drawing, or writing
2. a tool used in ancient times for writing on wax tablets, which was pointed at one end and blunt at the other for erasing mistakes
3. a device attached to the cartridge in the pick-up arm of a record player that rests in the groove in the record, transmitting the vibrations to the sensing device in the cartridge. It consists of or is tipped with a hard material, such as diamond or sapphire

Derived Forms

• ˈstylar, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stylus¹

1720–30; < Latin: spelling variant of stilus stake, pointed writing instrument; spelling with -y- from fancied derivation < Greek stŷlos column

Word History and Origins

Origin of stylus¹

C18: from Latin, variant of stilus writing implement; see style

Example Sentences

Visitors may lounge on sofas and drop the stylus on the EP, which runs the same length as the video but can be started at any point.

From New York Times

They toted baskets full of tiny lanterns, slips of parchment paper, and brass styluses.

From Literature

I put it on my nails when I get out of the shower, working the stylus around and under the toenails.

From Seattle Times

Voters’ official signatures are often carelessly scrawled with a stylus on a digital tablet while getting a driver’s license, Draper said.

From Seattle Times

Livingstone also perfected the “needle drop,” where a DJ begins a track by lowering the stylus from dead silence, rather than cueing a song up in advance in his headphones.

From Los Angeles Times