Meanings
plural pantographs · alternative archaic pentegraph
- A mechanical linkage based on parallelograms causing two objects to move in parallel; notably as a drawing aid.
A pantograph can be adjusted to make either scaled or exact copies.
Synonyms: lazy tongs, omnigraph
- By extension, a structure of crosswise bars linked in such a way that it can extend and compress like an accordion, such as in a pantograph mirror or a scissor lift.
- A pattern printed on a document to reduce the ease of photocopying.
I was impressed by the quality of the pantograph; I hadn't noticed it on the original, but the copies were covered in unpleasant lines.
- rail transportA similarly-formed conductive device, now usually Z-shaped, that collects electric current from overhead lines for trains and trams.
present singular third person pantographs · participle present pantographing · participle past pantographed · past pantographed · alternative archaic pentegraph
- To engrave by means of a pantograph (parallel linkage) system.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA mechanical linkage based on parallelograms causing two objects to move in parallel; notably as a drawing aid.
Origin
- Ancient Greekπαντός
- Frenchpantographe
- Englishpantograph
From French pantographe, from panto- (from Ancient Greek παντός (pantós), genitive singular of πᾶν (pân, “all”)), and -graphe (from γράφειν (gráphein, “to write”)).
More words from French, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic مِنْسَاخ, سَنْجَة تَوْصِيل
- مِنْسَاخ (minsāḵ)mechanical drawing aid
- سَنْجَة تَوْصِيلrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Catalan pantògraf, pantògraf
- pantògrafmechanical drawing aid
- pantògrafrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Chinese Mandarin 集電弓 /集电弓, 受電弓 /受电弓
- 集電弓 /集电弓 (jídiàngōng)rail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
- 受電弓 /受电弓 (shòudiàngōng)rail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Czech pantograf, pantograf
- pantografmechanical drawing aid
- pantografrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Danish strømaftager
- strømaftagerrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Dutch pantograaf, tekenaap
- pantograafmechanical drawing aid
- tekenaapmechanical drawing aid
- (tram)beugelrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
- stroomafnemerrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
- pantograafrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Finnish pantografi, suhdepiirrin
- pantografimechanical drawing aid
- suhdepiirrinmechanical drawing aid
- haitariaccordion-like extendable structure
- saksivirroitinrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
French pantographe, pantographe
- pantographemechanical drawing aid
- pantographerail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
German Stromabnehmer, Pantograf
- Stromabnehmerrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
- Pantografrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Hungarian pantográf, rajzmásoló
- pantográfmechanical drawing aid
- rajzmásolómechanical drawing aid
- rajzmásolat-készítőmechanical drawing aid
- áramszedőrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Indonesian pantograf
- pantografrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Italian pantografo, pantografo
- pantografomechanical drawing aid
- pantograforail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Japanese パンタグラフ
- パンタグラフ (pantagurafu)rail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Korean 집전장치
- 집전장치 (jipjeonjangchi)rail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Norwegian Bokmål strømavtaker
- strømavtakerrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Polish pantograf, pantograf
- pantografmechanical drawing aid
- pantografaccordion-like extendable structure
- pantografpattern to hamper photocopying
- pantografrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Russian панто́граф, панто́граф
- панто́граф (pantógraf)mechanical drawing aid
- панто́граф (pantógraf)rail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
- токоприёмник (tokoprijómnik)rail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Spanish pantógrafo, pantógrafo
- pantógrafomechanical drawing aid
- pantógraforail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Swedish strömavtagare, pantograf
- strömavtagarerail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
- pantografrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Turkish pantograf, leylekgagası
- pantografmechanical drawing aid
- leylekgagasımechanical drawing aid
- pantografrail transport: device that collects electric current from overhead lines
Cite this entry
pantograph. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pantograph
“pantograph.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pantograph. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pantograph,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pantograph.
Source: pantograph on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.