NOUN (1)

1. a sheet of material (metal, plastic, cardboard, waxed paper, silk, etc.) that has been perforated with a pattern (printing or a design); ink or paint can pass through the perforations to create the printed pattern on the surface below;


VERB (1)

1. mark or print with a stencil;

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stencil \Sten"cil\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stenciledor
   Stencilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Stenciling or Stencilling.]
   To mark, paint, or color in figures with stencils; to form or
   print by means of a stencil.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stencil \Sten"cil\, n. [Probably from OF. estincelle spangle,
   spark, F. ['e]tincelle spark, L. scintilla. See
   Scintillate, and cf. Tinsel.]
   A thin plate of metal, leather, or other material, used in
   painting, marking, etc. The pattern is cut out of the plate,
   which is then laid flat on the surface to be marked, and the
   color brushed over it. Called also stencil plate.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

stencil
    n 1: a sheet of material (metal, plastic, cardboard, waxed
         paper, silk, etc.) that has been perforated with a pattern
         (printing or a design); ink or paint can pass through the
         perforations to create the printed pattern on the surface
         below
    v 1: mark or print with a stencil