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paper Definition

pa·per (pā′pər)

noun

  1. 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.
  2. a single piece or sheet of paper
  3. a printed or written sheet; specif.,
    1. an official document
    2. an essay, monograph, or dissertation, as read before a learned society, published in a scholarly journal, etc.
    3. a written examination, report, theme, etc.
    1. commercial paper
    2. paper money
    1. newspaper
    2. wallpaper
  6. a small wrapper or card of paper, usually including its contents a paper of pins
  7. any material like paper, as papyrus
    1. documents identifying a person; credentials
    2. a collection of documents, letters, writings, etc., esp. of one person the Lincoln papers
  9. Slang
    1. a free pass or passes to a theater, etc.
    2. the people admitted by free passes

Etymology: ME papir < OFr papier < L papyrus < Gr papyros, papyrus

adjective

  1. of paper; made of paper
  2. like paper; thin
  3. existing only in written or printed form; theoretical; not real paper profits

transitive verb

  1. to cover or line with paper; specif., to cover or decorate with wallpaper
  2. to wrap or enclose in paper
  3. Slang to help to fill (a theater, etc.) by issuing free passes
  4. Archaic to describe in writing

intransitive verb

to hang wallpaper

paper Related Forms

pa′·perer noun

paper Idioms

on paper

  1. in written or printed form
  2. in theory

paper over

to conceal or try to cover up (differences, difficulties, unpleasant facts, etc.)

paper Synonyms

paper

modif.

unsubstantial, flimsy, cardboard; see thin 1.

paper Synonyms

paper

n.

  1. A piece of legal or official writing

    document, official document, legal paper; see record 1.

    Papers, sense 1, include: abstract, affidavit, warranty, bill, certificate, citation, contract, instrument, credentials, data, deed, diploma, indictment, grant, orders, passport, visa, plea, records, safe-conduct, subpoena, summons, testimony, writ, decree, true bill, voucher, warrant, will.

  2. A newspaper

    journal, daily, daily journal; see newspaper.

  3. A piece of writing

    essay, article, theme; see exposition 2, writing 2.

  4. Means of commercial exchange

    paper money, bills, bank notes; see money 1.

  5. A manufactured product

    Paper, sense 5, includes --- writing material: typing, typewriter, stationery, bond paper, letterhead, personal stationery, ruled, rag, handmade, handtorn, deckle-edge, laid, crown, post paper, correspondence card, foolscap, second sheet, onion skin, manifold, carbon paper, note pad, note paper, note card, filing card; printing paper: newsprint, enameled, glazed, enameled book, coated stock, free sheet, machine-finished book, publication book, poster, computer, copier, xerographic, linen finish, ripple finish, vellum, eggshell, parchment, India, wove, four-ply blank, six-ply blank, writing; Bristol board, strawboard; miscellaneous: art, rice, Chinese rice, Japanese rice, Japanese tea oatmeal, crêpe, butcher's, wrapping, Kraft, tissue, brown, tar, roofing, building, tracing, graph, Whatman, transfer, scrap, blotting, filter, toilet, wax, photographic, sensitive, sensitized; wallpaper, Cellophane, Pliofilm (trademarks), paper towel, cleansing tissue.

on paper

  1. recorded, signed, official; see written 2.

  2. in theory, assumed to be feasible, not yet in practice;

paper Synonyms

paper

v.

hang, paste up, plaster; see cover 1.

paper Finance Definition

Short for commercial paper, which is a debt instrument issued by corporations for a short period, usually less than 270 days. The definition of paper may be expanded to refer to all of the short-term debt that the company has outstanding.

paper Law Definition

n

Any written or printed document; any negotiable document or instrument evidencing the existence of a debt; stocks and bonds; securities. See negotiable instrument, bearer, commercial paper.

paper Telecom Definition

A flexible material consisting of thin, flat, felted sheets made of pulped wood, rags, or other fibrous materials laid down on a fine screen from a water suspension. Applications for paper include packaging, structural material, fabric substitute, and wall coverings. In days of yore, before the paperless office, people actually wrote and printed words and drew images on paper. See also paperless office.

paper Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • publish: Councils should publish all papers from public meetings on the internet.
  • present: In June he presented a seminar paper on 'A Year of President Putin ' , also at the same venue.
  • submit: Researchers working within any of the variety of disciples that have contributed to the analysis of strategic management are welcome to submit papers.
  • entitle: Carrying on with the blight theme, Moray Smith of CSL presented a paper alarmingly entitled ` Are Smith periods still relevant?
  • prepare: The Committee's response should be discussed at the next meeting, for which the Secretariat should prepare a paper.

Preposition: in

bulk: Each issue is distributed on paper in bulk to Academic Groups within the Institute.

Adjective modifier

  • white: The white paper must move beyond broad concepts to the problems of practice.
  • A4: Your work will be mainly produced and presented on A4 paper.
  • recycled: Buying recycled paper helps increase demand for recycled paper.
  • written: Computer Systems has a written paper of 2 hours duration.
  • scientific: It provides access to the wealth of scientific papers in the Society's archive.

Modifies a noun

  • towel: Use disposable cloths and paper towels where possible, otherwise wash tea towels, regularly.
  • mill: A comfortable hotel built on the site of an old paper mill.
  • copy: Paper copies or ( real paper ) photographic copies of the documents can be obtained from the record office for a small fee.

Noun used with modifier

  • ballot: Thus, Harriet Harman remained on the NEC ballot paper despite having failed to be properly nominated by her constituency party.
  • consultation: A second consultation paper, which will include the outcome of an Equality Impact Assessment, is due to issue shortly.
  • briefing: Capability Scotland's briefing paper outlined the need for access for all.
  • exam: Candidates must take 3 advanced exam papers, or equivalents.
  • examination: You will find a copy of last year's degree examination paper at the end of this document.
  • discussion: A discussion paper arising form the Kings Fund Seminar.