parcel

[ pahr-suhl ]
See synonyms for: parcelparceledparcelingparcelled on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. an object, article, container, or quantity of something wrapped or packed up; small package; bundle.

  2. a quantity or unit of something, as of a commodity for sale; lot.

  1. a group, collection, or assemblage of persons or things.

  2. a distinct, continuous portion or tract of land.

  3. a part, portion, or fragment.

verb (used with object),par·celed, par·cel·ing or (especially British) par·celled, par·cel·ling.
  1. to divide into or distribute in parcels or portions (usually followed by out).

  2. to make into a parcel or wrap as a parcel.

  1. Nautical. to cover or wrap (a rope) with strips of canvas.

adverb
  1. Archaic. in part; partially.

Origin of parcel

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French parcelle, from unattested Late Latin particella, fresh formation for Latin particula; see particle, passel

synonym study For parcel

1. See package.

Other words for parcel

Other words from parcel

  • un·par·celed; especially British, un·par·celled, adjective
  • un·par·cel·ing; especially British, un·par·cel·ling, adjective

Words Nearby parcel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use parcel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for parcel

parcel

/ (ˈpɑːsəl) /


noun
  1. something wrapped up; package

  2. a group of people or things having some common characteristic

  1. a quantity of some commodity offered for sale; lot

  2. a distinct portion of land

  3. an essential part of something (esp in the phrase part and parcel)

verb-cels, -celling or -celled or US -cels, -celing or -celed (tr)
  1. (often foll by up) to make a parcel of; wrap up

  2. (often foll by out) to divide (up) into portions

  1. nautical to bind strips of canvas around (a rope)

adverb
  1. an archaic word for partly

Origin of parcel

1
C14: from Old French parcelle, from Latin particula particle

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with parcel

parcel

In addition to the idiom beginning with parcel

  • parcel out

also see:

  • part and parcel

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.