para

1
[ pah-rah, pahr-ah ]
noun,plural pa·ras, pa·ra.

  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.

Origin of para

1
First recorded in 1905–10; from Serbo-Croatian pàra, from Turkish; see para2

Other definitions for para (2 of 10)

para2
[ pah-rah, pahr-ah ]
noun,plural pa·ras, pa·ra.

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

Origin of para

2
First recorded in1680–90; from Turkish, from Persian pāra, literally, “piece”

Other definitions for para (3 of 10)

para3
[ par-uh ]
adjectiveChemistry.

  1. pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 4) in the benzene ring that are separated by two carbon atoms.: Compare ortho, meta3.

noun

  1. para-dichlorobenzene.

Origin of para

3
First recorded in 1875–80; independent use of para-1

Other definitions for para (4 of 10)

para4
[ par-uh ]
nounInformal.

  1. paraprofessional.

  2. paratrooper.

  1. paragraph.

Origin of para

4
By shortening of words compounded with para-1, para-3

Other definitions for para (5 of 10)

para5
[ par-uh ]
noun,plural par·as, par·ae [par-ee]. /ˈpær i/. Obstetrics.

  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.

Origin of para

5
First recorded in 1880–85; extracted from primipara, multipara, etc.

Other definitions for para- (6 of 10)

para-1

  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. Abbreviation: p-.: Compare meta- (def. 4b), ortho- (def. 2b).

Origin of para-

6
<Greek para-, combining form representing pará (preposition) beside, alongside of, by, beyond
  • Also especially before a vowel, par- .

Other definitions for para- (7 of 10)

para-2

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

Origin of para-

7
<French <Italian para, 3rd singular present of parare to prepare against, ward off <Latin parāre to prepare

Other definitions for para- (8 of 10)

para-3

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

Other definitions for Pará (9 of 10)

Pará
[ pah-rah ]
noun

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

  2. Belém.

  1. Pará rubber.

Other definitions for Para. (10 of 10)

Para.
abbreviation

  1. Paraguay.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use para in a sentence

  • For those who have not the paras for the caf or the bath, the mosques offer their shaded courts.

    Mentone, Cairo, and Corfu | Constance Fenimore Woolson

  • Three paras of paddy are set apart for the local village deity.

  • It was a decontaminant spray; credited with the ability to destroy the contagion that made paras out of men.

    The Hate Disease | William Fitzgerald Jenkins

  • I repeat: a vaccine has been found which absolutely prevents anyone from becoming a para, and which cures those who are paras now.

    The Hate Disease | William Fitzgerald Jenkins

  • It's a part of a normal environment, but it doesn't normally produce paras.

    The Hate Disease | William Fitzgerald Jenkins

British Dictionary definitions for para (1 of 6)

para1

/ (ˈpɑːrə) /

nounplural -ras or -ra

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

Origin of para

1
C17: Serbo-Croat, via Turkish from Persian pārah piece, portion

British Dictionary definitions for para (2 of 6)

para2

/ (ˈpærə) /

nouninformal

    • a soldier in an airborne unit

    • an airborne unit

  2. a paragraph

British Dictionary definitions for para (3 of 6)

para3

/ (ˈpɑːrɑː) /

nounplural para

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

Origin of para

3
Māori

British Dictionary definitions for para- (4 of 6)

para-1
prefix

  1. beside; near: parameter; parathyroid

  2. beyond: parapsychology

  1. resembling: paramnesia

  2. defective; abnormal: paraesthesia

  3. subsidiary to: paraphysis

  4. (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): paradinitrobenzene; para- cresol Abbreviation: p- Compare ortho- (def. 4), meta- (def. 4)

  5. denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compound: paraldehyde; paracasein

  6. denoting the form of a diatomic substance in which the spins of the two constituent atoms are antiparallel: parahydrogen Compare ortho- (def. 6)

Origin of para-

4
from Greek para (prep) alongside, beyond

British Dictionary definitions for para- (5 of 6)

para-2
combining form

  1. indicating an object that acts as a protection against something: parachute; parasol

Origin of para-

5
via French from Italian para-, from parare to defend, shield against, ultimately from Latin parāre to prepare

British Dictionary definitions for Pará (6 of 6)

Pará

/ (Portuguese 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

  1. 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

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