paper
paper definition
pa·per (pā′pər)
noun
- a thin, flexible material made usually in sheets from a pulp prepared from rags, wood, or other fibrous material, and used for writing or printing on, for packaging, as structural material, as a fabric substitute, etc.
- a single piece or sheet of paper
- a printed or written sheet; specif.,
- an official document
- an essay, monograph, or dissertation, as read before a learned society, published in a scholarly journal, etc.
- a written examination, report, theme, etc.
- a small wrapper or card of paper, usually including its contents a paper of pins
- any material like paper, as papyrus
- documents identifying a person; credentials
- a collection of documents, letters, writings, etc., esp. of one person the Lincoln papers
- Slang
- a free pass or passes to a theater, etc.
- the people admitted by free passes
Etymology: ME papir < OFr papier < L papyrus < Gr papyros, papyrus
adjective
- of paper; made of paper
- like paper; thin
- existing only in written or printed form; theoretical; not real paper profits
transitive verb
- to cover or line with paper; specif., to cover or decorate with wallpaper
- to wrap or enclose in paper
- Slang to help to fill (a theater, etc.) by issuing free passes
- Archaic to describe in writing
intransitive verb
to hang wallpaper
Related Forms:
- paperer pa′·perer noun
paper Idioms
on paper
- in written or printed form
- in theory
paper over
to conceal or try to cover up (differences, difficulties, unpleasant facts, etc.)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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