parcel

[pahr-suhl]

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.

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

   Synonyms: assortment, batch

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

5. a part, portion, or fragment.

verb (used with object)

parceled, parceling , parcelled, parcelling .

1. to divide into or distribute in parcels or portions (usually followed byout ).

   Synonyms: allot, deal, deal, apportion, mete

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

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

adverb

1. Archaic.,  in part; partially.

parcel

/ ˈpɑːsəl /

noun

1. something wrapped up; package

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

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

4. a distinct portion of land

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

verb

1. (often foll by up) to make a parcel of; wrap up

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

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

adverb

1. an archaic word for partly

Other Word Forms

• unparceled adjective
• unparceling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parcel¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of parcel¹

C14: from Old French parcelle, from Latin particula _particle

Idioms and Phrases

• part and parcel

Synonym Study

See package.

Example Sentences

In August, Barr told Robb Report that her connection to Hawaii will always be there, but noted that she feels too old to care for such a large parcel of farmland herself.

Read more on MarketWatch

The parcel held her wedding dress, which had also been worn by her mother, an heirloom sari from her grandmother and wedding photos, among other items.

Read more on BBC

Beutner, for his part, signed off on a parcel tax to generate additional education funding, but voters rejected the proposal.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Housing with 200 apartments would be the first phase, to be built on a parcel of land formerly used to store damaged police cars, Boyle said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Piti said it is natural for governments to push for more rate cuts: “I think it’s part and parcel of being in this position where you have to take a medium-term perspective on things.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bundle 
• carton 
• package 
• packet