PAPER Definition & Meaning

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paper

[ pey-per ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a substance made from wood pulp, rags, straw, or other fibrous material, usually in thin sheets, used to bear writing or printing, for wrapping things, etc.
a piece, sheet, or leaf of this.
something resembling this substance, as papyrus.
a written or printed document or the like.
stationery; writing paper.
a newspaper or journal.
an essay, article, or dissertation on a particular topic:
a paper on early Mayan artifacts.
Often papers. a document establishing or verifying identity, status, or the like:
citizenship papers.
negotiable notes, bills, etc., as commercial paper or paper money:
Only silver, please, no paper.
a promissory note.
papers,
1. Nautical. ship's papers.
2. rolling paper.
wallpaper.
toilet paper.
a sheet or card of paper with pins or needles stuck through it in rows.
a set of questions for an examination, an individual set of written answers to them, or any written piece of schoolwork.
Slang. a free pass to an entertainment.

verb (used with object)

to cover with wallpaper or apply wallpaper to:
They papered the bedroom last summer.
to line or cover with paper.
to distribute handbills, posters, etc., throughout:
to paper a neighborhood with campaign literature.
to fold, enclose, or wrap in paper.
to supply with paper.
Informal. to deluge with documents, especially those requiring one to comply with certain technical procedures, as a means of legal harassment:
He papered the plaintiff to force a settlement.
Slang. to fill (a theater or the like) with spectators by giving away free tickets or passes.
Archaic.
1. to write or set down on paper.
2. to describe in writing.

verb (used without object)

to apply wallpaper to walls.

adjective

made of paper or paperlike material:
a paper bag.
paperlike; thin, flimsy, or frail.
of, relating to, or noting routine clerical duties.
pertaining to or carried on by means of letters, articles, books, etc.:
a paper war.
written or printed on paper.
existing in theory or principle only and not in reality:
paper profits.
indicating the first event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.
Slang. including many patrons admitted on free passes, as an audience for a theatrical performance:
It's a paper house tonight.

verb phrase

to patch up or attempt to conceal (a difference, disagreement, etc.) so as to preserve a friendship, present a unified opinion, etc.:
to paper over a dispute.

paper

/ ˈ��ɪ��ə /

noun

a substance made from cellulose fibres derived from rags, wood, etc, often with other additives, and formed into flat thin sheets suitable for writing on, decorating walls, wrapping, etc papyraceous
a single piece of such material, esp if written or printed on
usually plural documents for establishing the identity of the bearer; credentials
Also calledship's papers plural official documents relating to the ownership, cargo, etc, of a ship
plural collected diaries, letters, etc
See newspaper wallpaper
government See white paper green paper command paper
a lecture or short published treatise on a specific subject
a short essay, as by a student
1. a set of written examination questions
2. the student's answers
commerce See commercial paper
slang.
theatre a free ticket
on paper
in theory, as opposed to fact
it was a good idea on paper, but failed in practice

adjective

made of paper
paper cups do not last long
thin like paper
paper walls
prenominal existing only as recorded on paper but not yet in practice
paper profits
paper expenditure
taking place in writing
paper battles

verb

to cover (walls) with wallpaper
tr to cover or furnish with paper
slang.
tr theatre to fill (a performance) by giving away free tickets (esp in the phrase paper the house )

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Derived Forms

ˈ�貹��, noun

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Other �y��vlog Forms

�貹p��·�� adjective
�貹p��·�� adjective
��·�貹p�� verb (used with object)
�ܲ�·�貹p�� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of paper¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English papire, from Latin �貹��̄��ܲ� papyrus

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of paper¹

C14: from Latin papyrus

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Idioms and Phrases

on paper,
1. in written or printed form.
2. in theory rather than in practice.
3. existing only in a preliminary state; in a plan or design:
  The university building program is still only on paper.

More idioms and phrases containing paper

In addition to the idiom beginning with paper , also see on paper ; push paper ; walking papers .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Newly released papers include Mr Hampshire's full witness statement, which he wrote in support of Mr Yang and sought to keep private.

From

He was given papers saying he was "a threat to public order".

From

Mr Hartley will still appear on the ballot paper as a Reform UK candidate, as his suspension was announced after candidate lists were published.

From

In the days after Baby Callum's discovery, tests found wads of tissue paper had been inserted into his mouth and throat, confirming it was not likely to have been an accident.

From

It also conflicts with the paper trail, which shows that they incorporated and registered the domain "girlsgonebible.com" a month before the first episode was released.

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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