pen

pen¹
noun

an instrument for writing or drawing with ink, typically consisting of a metal nib or ball, or a nylon tip, fitted into a metal or plastic holder
笔
■(the pen)the occupation or practice of writing
写作
she was forced to support herself not only by the pen, but as a secret agent.
她不得不靠写作和当特工来养活自己。
■an electronic pen-like device used in conjunction with a writing surface to enter commands or data into a computer
电子光笔
(Zoology)the tapering cartilaginous internal shell of a squid
(动)（枪乌贼的）羽状壳

(penned, penning)

[with obj.]write or compose
写；撰写
he had not penned a line to Lizzie in three years.
三年来，他没给莉齐写过一行字。

常用词组
pen and ink

(Brit. rhyming slang)a stink
(英，谐俚)臭味，臭气

the pen is mightier than the sword

(proverb)writing is more effective than military power or violence
(谚)言语胜于刀剑，笔尖胜过干戈

put (或 set) pen to paper

write or begin to write something
动笔，开始写

语源

Middle English (originally denoting a feather with a sharpened quill): from Old French penne, from Latin penna 'feather' (in late Latin 'pen')

pen²
noun

a small enclosure in which sheep, pigs, cattle, or other domestic animals are kept
（羊、猪、牛等家畜的）圈，栏，棚
■a number of animals in or sufficient to fill such an enclosure
一圈（或栏）家畜
a pen of twenty-five Cheviots.
一圈25只雪福特羊。
■any small enclosure in which someone or something can be confined
小围栏
■a covered dock for a submarine or other warship
（潜艇等战舰的）隐蔽坞，掩藏坞
■(in the West Indies) a farm or plantation
（西印度群岛）农庄，大农场

(penned, penning)

[with obj.]put or keep (an animal) in a pen
把（动物）关在圈中
it was the practice to pen the sheep for clipping.
把羊关在圈中剪羊毛是一种习惯做法。
■(pen someone up/in)confine someone in a restricted space
关押，囚禁（某人）
they had been penned up day and night in the house.
他们被日日夜夜关在那间房子中。

语源

Old English penn, of unknown origin

pen³
noun

a female swan
雌天鹅

语源

mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin

pen⁴
noun

(N. Amer. informal). short for penitentiary (in sense 1)
(北美，非正式)。 penitentiary（义项1）的简称

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