writing

[rahy-ting]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that writes.

2. written written form.

   to commit one's thoughts to writing.

3. that which is written; written; characters or matter written written with a pen or the like.

   His writing is illegible.

4. such characters or matter with respect to style, kind, quality, etc.

5. an inscription.

6. a letter.

7. any written written or printed paper, as a document or deed.

8. literary or musical style, form, quality, technique, etc..

   Her writing is stilted.

9. a literary composition or production.

10. the profession of a writer.

    He turned to writing at an early age.

11. the Writings, Hagiographa.

writing

/ ˈraɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. a group of letters or symbols written or marked on a surface as a means of communicating ideas by making each symbol stand for an idea, concept, or thing, by using each symbol to represent a set of sounds grouped into syllables ( syllabic writing ), or by regarding each symbol as corresponding roughly or exactly to each of the sounds in the language ( alphabetic writing ) See also ideogram

2. short for handwriting

3. anything expressed in letters, esp a literary composition

4. the work of a writer

5. literary style, art, or practice

6. written form

   give it to me in writing

7. (modifier) related to or used in writing

   writing ink

8. a sign or signs of approaching disaster

Other Word Forms

• self-writing adjective
• unwriting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of writing¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; write + -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of writing¹

sense 8: allusion to Daniel 5:5

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. writing on the wall. handwriting.

Example Sentences

While they still would contribute original music to animated television shows, including specials focusing on “Strawberry Shortcake” and “The Care Bears” series, the duo stopped writing and recording new Flo & Eddie music.

From Los Angeles Times

She ended up writing, she says, a "reportage of the heart".

From BBC

Pacific time, when the Women’s Super League transfer window closes, to get the deal in writing.

From Los Angeles Times

I was expecting a long courting process when you’re trying to get Lady Gaga — like, writing letters.

From Los Angeles Times

Mosley’s also experienced enough to know that what writers hope readers understand and what readers actually see in their writing can be very different.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• article 
• book 
• document 
• essay 
• letter 
• literature 
• manuscript 
• novel 
• paper 
• piece 
• poem 
• prose 
• publication 
• review 
• theme 
• work