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. paper over,  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

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 called: ship's papers. (plural) official documents relating to the ownership, cargo, etc, of a ship

5. (plural) collected diaries, letters, etc

6. See newspaper wallpaper

7. 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. commerce See commercial paper

12. slang,  theatre a free ticket

13. 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 profits

   paper expenditure

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 )

Other Word Forms

• paperless adjective
• paperlike adjective
• repaper verb (used with object)
• unpapered adjective
• paperer noun

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

• on paper
• push paper
• walking papers

Example Sentences

On paper, the defensive improvement has been palpable, year over year, even if it’s a bit less drastic from this season to last.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The physical bulk of the braille test papers also contributes to the length.

Read more on BBC

James said in court papers that the company “decided to smear” him, arguing that he reinvested hundreds of millions of dollars in First Brands over the years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Modular reactor technologies have been touted by many companies internationally but are still only plans on paper," he said.

Read more on BBC

Today, they note in a paper, caste has come to be seen as the burden only of India's lower castes - Dalits and Adivasis - who must constantly prove their identity through official labels.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• card 
• note 
• pad 
• poster 
• sheet 
• stationery