noun
stencil
STEHN-sihl
noun
1
A sheet with a cut-out pattern used to apply paint or ink in that shape onto a surface.
"She used a stencil to paint the house number on the wall."
verb
1
To create a design using a stencil.
"He stencilled the logo onto the crates before shipping."
How to Use Stencil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cut-out template for painting the same shape or letters repeatedly, or the act of using one.
Common pairings
stencil a design
spray-paint stencil
letter stencil
Word Forms
stenciled past tense, stencilled past tense, stencils plural, stencils singular
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She used a _____ to paint the house number on the wall.
Etymology
Traces back to Old French estenceler, "to sparkle," from estencele, "spark" — the link to decoration comes from the idea of dotting a surface with bright flecks of colour.