crayon

noun cray·on \ ˈkrā-ˌän , -ən also ˈkran \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of crayon

1 : a stick of white or colored chalk or of colored wax used for writing or drawing

2 : a crayon drawing

See crayon defined for English-language learners

See crayon defined for kids

Examples of crayon in a Sentence

The drawing is done in crayon.

Recent Examples of crayon from the Web

Reasons for rejection include improper form (a cut up greeting card, for example), marks or imperfections, written in marker, crayon or gel pen or stains or discolorations.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Strict mail inspection process aims to keep contraband, particularly drugs, out of Harford jail," 11 Apr. 2018
Pink captioned the clip, which begins with Willow filling in her lips with a bright pink crayon.

— refinery29.com, "Pink's Daughter Is Already The Beauty Influencer We Need," 22 Mar. 2018
The library will provide colored pencils, crayons and coloring sheets.

— bob dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Former Packers standout LeRoy Butler to appear at Friends of Autism event," 26 Feb. 2018
Apply one shade all over your mouth, and the lighter color (or even a white lip crayon) in the middle of your lips.

— elizabeth denton, Seventeen, "8 Ways To Make Your Lips Look Bigger — Naturally," 4 Dec. 2017
Eyes: Amalfi Coast bronzer as shadow, Color Saturated eye crayon in Chocolate Diamond and Absolute Lash Icon mascara.

— chelsea peng, Marie Claire, "Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Might Be Engaged," 26 Aug. 2015
Data visualization as a concept, of course, is hardly new (ask anyone who used crayons to color in a pie chart in grade school).

— matthew heimer, Fortune, "How Software Maker Tableau Helps Doctors Tame Data," 19 Mar. 2018
Check the time, round up to the nearest hour, and write this number at the very edge of your plate with a crayon or marker.

— megan arnett, Scientific American, "It's About Time... to Make a Sundial!," 15 Mar. 2018
His father, Shantilal Karsandas Vadukul, was a traveling camera salesman and amateur photographer; his mother, the former Shantaben Vara, was a homemaker who later worked in crayon and wiring factories to supplement the family income.

— matthew sedacca, New York Times, "Nitin Vadukul, Inventive Photographer of Hip-Hop, Dies at 52," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crayon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of crayon

French, crayon, pencil, from diminutive of craie chalk, from Latin creta

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1644

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

crayon

verb

Definition of crayon

transitive verb

: to draw with a crayon

—

crayonist

play \ˈkrā-ə-nist\ noun

First Known Use of crayon

1662

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

CRAYON Defined for English Language Learners

crayon

noun

Definition of crayon for English Language Learners

: a stick of colored wax that is used for drawing

CRAYON Defined for Kids

crayon

noun cray·on \ ˈkrā-ˌän , -ən \

Definition of crayon for Students

: a stick of colored wax or sometimes chalk used for writing or drawing

crayon

verb

Definition of crayon for Students

crayoned; crayoning

: to draw or color with a crayon

Learn More about crayon

See words that rhyme with crayon Spanish Central: Translation of crayon Nglish: Translation of crayon for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of crayon for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crayon

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crayon

Definition of crayon

Examples of crayon in a Sentence

Recent Examples of crayon from the Web

Origin and Etymology of crayon

Other Fine Arts Terms

crayon

Definition of crayon

crayonist

First Known Use of crayon

Other Fine Arts Terms

CRAYON Defined for English Language Learners

crayon

Definition of crayon for English Language Learners

CRAYON Defined for Kids

crayon

Definition of crayon for Students

crayon

Definition of crayon for Students

Learn More about crayon

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