blue-pencil

[ bloo-pen-suh l ]
/ ˈbluˈpɛn səl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR blue-pencil ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), blue-pen·ciled, blue-pen·cil·ing or (especially British) blue-pen·cilled, blue-pen·cil·ling.

to alter, abridge, or cancel with or as with a pencil that has blue lead, as in editing a manuscript.

Origin of blue-pencil

First recorded in 1885–90

Words nearby blue-pencil

blue-green algae, blue-headed vireo, blue-jeaned, blue-leg, blue-on-blue, blue-pencil, blue-red, blue-ribbon, blue-ribbon jury, blue-ringed octopus, blue-rinse

Words related to blue pencil

restriction, suppression, blackout, invalidate, annul, veto, void, undo, abolish, restrict, quash, offset, negate, abrogate, repeal, rescind, torpedo, annihilate, expunge, exterminate

British Dictionary definitions for blue pencil

blue pencil

noun

deletion, alteration, or censorship of the contents of a book or other work

verb blue-pencil -cils, -cilling or -cilled or US -cils, -ciling or -ciled

(tr) to alter or delete parts of (a book, film, etc), esp to censor