noun
biro
BEYE-roh
Biro (noun) means a ballpoint pen, especially in British English, from the original brand name. Example: “He signed the form with a chewed-up blue biro.”
noun
1
A ballpoint pen, especially in British English, from the original brand name.
"Frank's Biro taps delicately at the topmost of the little yellow notes."
— Iain Banks, Complicity (1993)
"Massimo's finger was poised above red on his multi-coloured biro like a kangaroo frozen in headlights."
— Karen Foxlee, The Anatomy of Wings (2007)
"He signed the form with a chewed-up blue biro."
"She always keeps a spare biro in her bag."
How to use biro
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common British word for an ordinary ballpoint pen.
UK vs US
Mainly British; Americans just say "ballpoint pen" or "pen".
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Word forms
- Plural
- biros
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He signed the form with a chewed-up blue _____.
Etymology
From the trademark Biro, named after László Bíró, the Hungarian-born inventor who patented the modern ballpoint pen in the late 1930s.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for biro
See all rhymes for biro →Frequently asked questions
What does “biro” mean?
The word “biro” means a ballpoint pen, especially in British English, from the original brand name. In plain terms, a common British word for an ordinary ballpoint pen.
How do you pronounce “biro”?
“Biro” is pronounced BEYE-roh (/ˈbaɪ.ɹəʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “biro” in a sentence?
Here is “biro” used in a sentence: “He signed the form with a chewed-up blue biro.”
What part of speech is “biro”?
“Biro” is a noun.
Where does the word “biro” come from?
The word “biro” dates back to around 1930. From the trademark Biro, named after László Bíró, the Hungarian-born inventor who patented the modern ballpoint pen in the late 1930s.
