para

¹ American  

[pah-rah, pahr-ah] / pɑˈrɑ, ˈpɑr ɑ /

noun

plural

paras, para

1. a coin and monetary unit of Macedonia and Serbia, one 100th of a dinar.

2. formerly, a coin and monetary unit of Yugoslavia, one 100th of a dinar.

---

para- ² American  

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 .

2. Chemistry. a combining form designating the para (1, 4) position in the benzene ring. p-.

---

para ³ American  

[pah-rah, pahr-ah] / pɑˈrɑ, ˈpɑr ɑ /

noun

plural

paras, para

1. a former copper coin of Turkey, the 40th part of a piaster.

---

para- ⁴ American  

1. a combining form meaning “guard against,” occurring in loanwords from French, or, via French, from Italian: parachute; parasol .

---

para ⁵ American  

[par-uh] / ˈpær ə /

adjective

Chemistry.

1. pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 4) in the benzene ring that are separated by two carbon atoms.

---

noun

1. para-dichlorobenzene.

para- ⁶ American  

1. a combining form extracted from parachute, forming compounds denoting persons or things utilizing parachutes or landed by parachute: paradrop; paradoctor; paraglider; paratrooper .

---

para ⁷ American  

[par-uh] / ˈpær ə /

noun

Informal.

1. paraprofessional.

2. paratrooper.

3. paragraph.

---

para ⁸ American  

[par-uh] / ˈpær ə /

noun

Obstetrics.

plural

paras, parae

1. 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.

2. the woman herself.

---

Pará ⁹ American  

[pah-rah] / pɑˈrɑ /

noun

1. an estuary in N Brazil: an arm of the Amazon. 200 miles (320 km) long; 40 miles (65 km) wide.

2. Belém.

3. Pará rubber.

---

Para. ¹⁰ American  

abbreviation

1. Paraguay.

---

para- ¹ British  

prefix

1. beside; near

   parameter

   parathyroid

2. beyond

   parapsychology

3. resembling

   paramnesia

4. defective; abnormal

   paraesthesia

5. subsidiary to

   paraphysis

6.  p-.  (usually in italics) denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents attached to atoms that are directly opposite across the ring (the 1,4- positions) Compare ortho- meta-

   paradinitrobenzene

   para-cresol

7. denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compound

   paraldehyde

   paracasein

8. denoting the form of a diatomic substance in which the spins of the two constituent atoms are antiparallel Compare ortho-

   parahydrogen

---

para ² British  

/ ˈpærə /

noun

1. 1. a soldier in an airborne unit

   2. an airborne unit

2. a paragraph

---

Pará ³ British  

/ paˈra /

noun

1. 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)

2. another name for Belém

3. an estuary in N Brazil into which flow the Tocantins River and a branch of the Amazon. Length: about 320 km (200 miles)

---

para ⁴ British  

/ ˈpɑːrə /

noun

1. a monetary unit of Serbia worth one hundredth of a dinar; formerly a monetary unit of Yugoslavia

---

para- ⁵ British  

combining form

1. indicating an object that acts as a protection against something

   parachute

   parasol

---

para ⁶ British  

/ ˈpɑːrɑː /

noun

1. Also called: horseshoe fern.   king fern.  a New Zealand fern, Marattia salicina , with long heavy fronds

---

Etymology

Origin of para¹

First recorded in 1905–10; from Serbo-Croatian pàra, from Turkish; para ²

Origin of para-²

< Greek para-, combining form representing pará (preposition) beside, alongside of, by, beyond

Origin of para³

First recorded in 1680–90; from Turkish, from Persian pāra, literally, “piece”

Origin of para-⁴

< French < Italian para, 3rd-person singular present of parare to prepare against, ward off < Latin parāre to prepare

Origin of para⁵

First recorded in 1875–80; independent use of para- ¹

Origin of para⁷

By shortening of words compounded with para- ¹, para- ³

Origin of para⁸

First recorded in 1880–85; extracted from primipara ( def. ), multipara, etc.

Example Sentences

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games will take place from 23 July 23 to 2 August and feature 10 sports and six para sports.

From BBC

The first 2028 Paralympic medals will be awarded on Aug. 16 in para track and field, wheelchair fencing, shooting para sport, para equestrian and para cycling track.

From Los Angeles Times

Hannah is one of several members of an inclusive dance class in west Oxfordshire, which gives people of all abilities the opportunity to train in para dance.

From BBC

He fretted over “small checks” he got for “only” eight hours of work and once, with no money to spare, simply wrote: “Ni para el periodico.”

From Los Angeles Times

“In Spanish we have a saying, ‘El sol sale para todos,’ or the sun rises for everybody.

From Los Angeles Times