Dictionary.com

papyrus

[ puh-pahy-ruhs ]
/ pəˈpaɪ rəs /
Save This Word!

noun, plural pa·py·ri [puh-pahy-rahy, -ree], /pəˈpaɪ raɪ, -ri/, pa·py·rus·es.
a tall, aquatic plant, Cyperus papyrus, of the sedge family, native to the Nile valley: the Egyptian subspecies, C. papyrus hadidii, thought to be common in ancient times, now occurs only in several sites.
a material on which to write, prepared from thin strips of the pith of this plant laid together, soaked, pressed, and dried, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
an ancient document, manuscript, or scroll written on this material.
QUIZ
TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS
Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”
Question 1 of 7
What does "dignity" mean?

Origin of papyrus

1350–1400; Middle English papirus<Latin papȳrus<Greek pápȳros

OTHER WORDS FROM papyrus

pa·py·ral, pa·pyr·i·an [puh-pir-ee-uhn], /pəˈpɪr i ən/, pa·py·rine [puh-pahy-rin], /pəˈpaɪ rɪn/, adjectivepap·y·ri·tious [pap-uh-rish-uhs], /ˌpæp əˈrɪʃ əs/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use papyrus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for papyrus

papyrus
/ (pəˈpaɪrəs) /

noun plural -ri (-raɪ) or -ruses
a tall aquatic cyperaceous plant, Cyperus papyrus, of S Europe and N and central Africa with small green-stalked flowers arranged like umbrella spokes around the stem top
a kind of paper made from the stem pith of this plant, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans
an ancient document written on this paper

Word Origin for papyrus

C14: via Latin from Greek papūros reed used in making paper
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK