paper

[ pey-per ]

noun

1. 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.
2. a piece, sheet, or leaf of this.
3. something resembling this substance, as papyrus.
4. a written or printed document or the like.
5. stationery; writing paper.
6. a newspaper or journal.
7. an essay, article, or dissertation on a particular topic:

   a paper on early Mayan artifacts.

8. Often papers. a document establishing or verifying identity, status, or the like:

   citizenship papers.

9. negotiable notes, bills, etc., as commercial paper or paper money:

   Only silver, please, no paper.

10. a promissory note.
11. papers,
    1. Nautical. ship's papers.
    2. rolling paper.
12. wallpaper.
13. toilet paper.
14. a sheet or card of paper with pins or needles stuck through it in rows.
15. a set of questions for an examination, an individual set of written answers to them, or any written piece of schoolwork.
16. Slang. a free pass to an entertainment.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with wallpaper or apply wallpaper to:

   They papered the bedroom last summer.

2. to line or cover with paper.
3. to distribute handbills, posters, etc., throughout:

   to paper a neighborhood with campaign literature.

4. to fold, enclose, or wrap in paper.
5. to supply with paper.
6. 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.

7. Slang. to fill (a theater or the like) with spectators by giving away free tickets or passes.
8. Archaic.
   1. to write or set down on paper.
   2. to describe in writing.

verb (used without object)

1. to apply wallpaper to walls.

adjective

1. made of paper or paperlike material:

   a paper bag.

2. paperlike; thin, flimsy, or frail.
3. of, relating to, or noting routine clerical duties.
4. pertaining to or carried on by means of letters, articles, books, etc.:

   a paper war.

5. written or printed on paper.
6. existing in theory or principle only and not in reality:

   paper profits.

7. indicating the first event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.
8. Slang. including many patrons admitted on free passes, as an audience for a theatrical performance:

   It's a paper house tonight.

verb phrase

1. 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

/ ˈpeɪpə /

noun

1. 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
2. a single piece of such material, esp if written or printed on
3. usually plural documents for establishing the identity of the bearer; credentials
4. Also calledship's papers plural official documents relating to the ownership, cargo, etc, of a ship
5. plural collected diaries, letters, etc
6. See wallpaper, newspaper
   See newspaper wallpaper
7. See command paper, green paper, white paper
   government See white paper green paper command paper
8. a lecture or short published treatise on a specific subject
9. a short essay, as by a student
10. 1. a set of written examination questions
    2. the student's answers
11. See commercial paper
    commerce See commercial paper
12. slang.
    theatre a free ticket
13. on paper
    on paper in theory, as opposed to fact

    it was a good idea on paper, but failed in practice

adjective

1. made of paper

   paper cups do not last long

2. thin like paper

   paper walls

3. prenominal existing only as recorded on paper but not yet in practice

   paper expenditure

   paper profits

4. taking place in writing

   paper battles

verb

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

Derived Forms

• ˈpaperer, noun

Other Words From

• paper·less adjective
• paper·like adjective
• re·paper verb (used with object)
• un·papered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper¹

C14: from Latin papyrus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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 .

Example Sentences

Back when Sam went upstate, job searches required nothing more than a typewriter, some paper, and the classifieds.

From The Daily Beast

“We would just as soon stay away from a group that will create controversy,” the Cubs general manager Sam Bernabe told the paper.

From The Daily Beast

The reality TV mogul bared her butt—and everything else, too—for Paper Magazine in a spread that sent Twitter into a tizzy.

From The Daily Beast

Fold the parchment paper with the dry ingredients in half and pour into the stand mixer.

From The Daily Beast

Place the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt on parchment or wax paper.

From The Daily Beast

Even as they gazed they saw its roof caught up, and whirled off as if it had been a scroll of paper.

From Project Gutenberg

A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.

From Project Gutenberg

Bits of paper blew aimlessly about, wafted by a little, feverish breeze, which rose in spasms and died away.

From Project Gutenberg

The Spaniards since have substituted paper for the leaves of maize, in imitation of them.

From Project Gutenberg

"Buy something for your wife that-is-to-be," he said to his grand-nephew, as he handed him the folded paper.

From Project Gutenberg