paper

¹pa·per

noun \ˈpā-pər\

Definition of PAPER

1

a (1) : a felted sheet of usually vegetable fibers laid down on a fine screen from a water suspension (2) : a similar sheet of other material (as plastic) b : a piece of paper

2

a : a piece of paper containing a written or printed statement : document <pedigree papers> b : a piece of paper containing writing or print c : a formal written composition often designed for publication and often intended to be read aloud <presented a scholarly paper at the meeting> d : a piece of written schoolwork

3

: a paper container or wrapper

4

: newspaper

5

: the negotiable notes or instruments of commerce

6

: wallpaper

7

: tickets; especially : free passes

8

: paperback

— on paper

1

: in writing <wants these promises on paper>

2

: in theory <the plan looks good on paper>

3

: figured at face value <on paper the stock was worth nearly a million dollars>

Examples of PAPER

1. We'll need pens, glue, and some paper.
2. Be sure to print the letter on good paper.
3. He scribbled the number on a scrap of paper.
4. a crumpled piece of paper
5. The border guards asked to see my papers.
6. They published a landmark paper in 1995.
7. The teacher was busy grading papers.
8. She did well on her history paper.

Origin of PAPER

Middle English papir, from Anglo-French, from Latin papyrus papyrus, paper, from Greek papyros papyrus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PAPER

Synonyms: blank, document, form

Related Words: instrument, writ; filing; sheet

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Paper Terms

folio, palimpsest, quire, ream

Rhymes with PAPER

aper, caper, draper, japer, raper, scraper, shaper, taper, vapor