How Do You Spell STYLUS?

Pronunciation: [stˈa͡ɪləs] (IPA)

The word "stylus" is spelled with a "y" but pronounced with an "i" sound. This is due to historical reasons: the word comes from the Greek "stylos," which was pronounced with an "i" sound. However, when it was borrowed into Latin, it was spelled with a "y." This spelling was then adopted into English when the word was borrowed from Latin. The IPA phonetic transcription for "stylus" is /ˈstaɪləs/, with the unstressed syllable pronounced as schwa.

STYLUS Meaning and Definition

  1. A stylus is a small handheld device primarily used for writing or drawing on touchscreens, electronic tablets, or other digital devices. It typically has a thin, pointed tip made of a material such as rubber, plastic, or metal, and is designed to interact with the touch-sensitive surface of the device.

    The main purpose of a stylus is to provide a more precise and accurate input method compared to using fingers. By using a stylus, users can have greater control and dexterity when navigating through menus, selecting options, or drawing intricate designs. This can be particularly beneficial for artistic or detailed tasks, as the stylus allows for finer lines and detailed strokes.

    Styluses may be passive or active. A passive stylus is a basic, non-electronic tool that relies on the conductivity or pressure of the tip to interact with the device's screen. In contrast, an active stylus usually includes additional features like an electronic sensor, buttons, or Bluetooth connectivity to enhance functionality, enable pressure sensitivity, or provide palm rejection capabilities.

    While styluses were traditionally seen as essential tools for resistive touchscreens or handwriting recognition, they have become popular with modern capacitive touchscreens, including those used in smartphones and tablets. Styluses are often used by digital artists, professionals, or anyone desiring more precision and control when interacting with touch-enabled devices.

  2. A style, a stilet; stilus.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for STYLUS

Etymology of STYLUS

The word "stylus" originates from the Latin word "stilus". In ancient Rome, a "stilus" referred to a pointed instrument used for writing on wax tablets. The root of the word can be traced back even further to the Proto-Indo-European language, where "steig" meant "to prick" or "to pierce". This root also gave rise to words like "stick" and "stake". Over time, "stilus" evolved into the word "stylus" in English, which has a broader meaning encompassing various writing, drawing, or input devices used with digital devices.

Similar spelling words for STYLUS

Plural form of STYLUS is STYLI OR STYLUSES

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