transitive verb wrote, written writ′·ten, writing writ′·ing

1. 1. to form or inscribe (words, letters, symbols, etc.) on a surface, as by cutting, carving, embossing, or, esp., marking with a pen or pencil
   2. to form the words, letters, or symbols of with pencil, chalk, typewriter, etc.; put down in a form to be read to write a paragraph, a formula, etc.
2. to form or inscribe (words) in cursive style
3. to spell (a name, word, etc.) words written alike are often pronounced differently
4. to know (a specific alphabet, language, etc.) well enough to communicate in writing
5. to be the author or composer of (literary or musical material)
6. to draw up or compose in legal form
7. to fill in (a check, money order, etc.) with necessary writing
8. to cover with writing to write three pages
9. to communicate in writing he wrote that he would be late
10. to communicate with in writing; write a letter or note to write her before you go
11. to entitle or designate in writing he writes himself “Judge”
12. to underwrite
13. to leave marks, signs, or evidence of; show clearly greed was written on his face
14. Comput. to record (information) in a computer's memory or on a tape, etc. for use by a computer to write a file to a disk

Etymology: ME writen < OE writan, to scratch, engrave, write, akin to Ger reissen, to tear < IE base *wer-, to tear off, scratch > Gr rhinē, a rasp

intransitive verb

1. to form or inscribe words, letters, symbols, etc. on a surface, esp. by making marks with a pen or pencil
2. to form words in cursive style
3. to write books or other literary matter; be an author or writer
4. to write a letter or letters
5. to be employed at written work, as a clerk, copyist, etc.
6. to produce writing of a specified kind to write legibly, a pen that writes scratchily