para
1[ pah-rah, pahr-ah ]
/ pɑˈrɑ, ˈpɑr ɑ /
noun, plural pa·ras, pa·ra.
a coin and monetary unit of Macedonia and Serbia, one 100th of a dinar.
formerly, a coin and monetary unit of Yugoslavia, one 100th of a dinar.
QUIZZES
LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!
Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.
Question 1 of 13
How do you say “cat” 🐈 in Spanish?
Origin of para
1First recorded in 1905–10; from Serbo-Croatian pàra, from Turkish; see para2
Words nearby para
Definition for para (2 of 10)
para2
[ pah-rah, pahr-ah ]
/ pɑˈrɑ, ˈpɑr ɑ /
noun, plural pa·ras, pa·ra.
a former copper coin of Turkey, the 40th part of a piaster.
Origin of para
2First recorded in1680–90; from Turkish, from Persian pāra, literally, “piece”
Definition for para (3 of 10)
para3
[ par-uh ]
/ ˈpær ə /
adjective Chemistry.
noun
Origin of para
3First recorded in 1875–80; independent use of para-1
Definition for para (4 of 10)
Definition for para (5 of 10)
para5
[ par-uh ]
/ ˈpær ə /
noun, plural par·as, par·ae [par-ee]. /ˈpær i/. Obstetrics.
Also called parity . a woman's status regarding the bearing of viable offspring: usually followed by a Roman numeral designating the number of times the woman has given birth.
the woman herself.
Compare gravida.
Definition for para (6 of 10)
para-1
a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, most often attached to verbs and verbal derivatives, with the meanings “at or to one side of, beside, side by side” (parabola; paragraph; parallel; paralysis), “beyond, past, by” (paradox; paragogue); by extension from these senses, this prefix came to designate objects or activities auxiliary to or derivative of that denoted by the base word (parody; paronomasia), and hence abnormal or defective (paranoia), a sense now common in modern scientific coinages (parageusia; paralexia). As an English prefix, para-1 may have any of these senses; it is also productive in the naming of occupational roles considered ancillary or subsidiary to roles requiring more training, or of a higher status, on such models as paramedical and paraprofessional: paralegal; paralibrarian; parapolice.
Chemistry. a combining form designating the para (1, 4) position in the benzene ring. Abbreviation: p-.Compare meta- (def. 4b), ortho- (def. 2b).
Also especially before a vowel, par- .
Origin of para-
1<Greek para-, combining form representing pará (preposition) beside, alongside of, by, beyond
Definition for para (7 of 10)
para-2
a combining form meaning “guard against,” occurring in loanwords from French, or, via French, from Italian: parachute; parasol.
Origin of para-
2<French <Italian para, 3rd singular present of parare to prepare against, ward off <Latin parāre to prepare
Definition for para (8 of 10)
para-3
a combining form extracted from parachute, forming compounds denoting persons or things utilizing parachutes or landed by parachute: paradrop; paradoctor; paraglider; paratrooper.
Definition for para (9 of 10)
Pará
[ pah-rah ]
/ pɑˈrɑ /
noun
an estuary in N Brazil: an arm of the Amazon. 200 miles (320 km) long; 40 miles (65 km) wide.
Definition for para (10 of 10)
Para.
Paraguay.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for para
British Dictionary definitions for para (1 of 6)
para1
/ (ˈpɑːrə) /
noun plural -ras or -ra
a monetary unit of Serbia worth one hundredth of a dinar; formerly a monetary unit of Yugoslavia
Word Origin for para
C17: Serbo-Croat, via Turkish from Persian pārah piece, portion
British Dictionary definitions for para (2 of 6)
para2
/ (ˈpærə) /
noun informal
- a soldier in an airborne unit
- an airborne unit
a paragraph
British Dictionary definitions for para (3 of 6)
para3
/ (ˈpɑːrɑː) /
noun plural para
a New Zealand fern, Marattia salicina, with long heavy frondsAlso called: horseshoe fern, king fern
Word Origin for para
Māori
British Dictionary definitions for para (4 of 6)
para-1
before a vowel par-
prefix
Word Origin for para-
from Greek para (prep) alongside, beyond
British Dictionary definitions for para (5 of 6)
para-2
combining form
indicating an object that acts as a protection against somethingparachute; parasol
Word Origin for para-
via French from Italian para-, from parare to defend, shield against, ultimately from Latin parāre to prepare
British Dictionary definitions for para (6 of 6)
Pará
/ (Portuguese paˈra) /
noun
a state of N Brazil, on the Atlantic: mostly dense tropical rainforest Capital: Belém. Pop: 6 453 683 (2002). Area: 1 248 042 sq km (474 896 sq miles)
another name for Belém
an estuary in N Brazil into which flow the Tocantins River and a branch of the Amazon. Length: about 320 km (200 miles)
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
Medical definitions for para (1 of 3)
para
[ păr′ə ]
n.
A woman who has given birth to an infant or infants.
Medical definitions for para (2 of 3)
para-
pref.
Medical definitions for para (3 of 3)
-para
suff.
A woman who has given birth to a specified number of children:multipara.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.