papyrus

[ puh-pahy-ruhs ]

noun

, plural pa·py·ri [p, uh, -, pahy, -rahy, -ree], pa·py·rus·es.

1. a tall, aquatic plant, Cyperus papyrus, of the sedge family, native to the Nile valley: the Egyptian subspecies, C. papyrus hadidii, thought to be common in ancient times, now occurs only in several sites.
2. a material on which to write, prepared from thin strips of the pith of this plant laid together, soaked, pressed, and dried, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
3. an ancient document, manuscript, or scroll written on this material.

papyrus

/ pəˈpaɪrəs /

noun

1. a tall aquatic cyperaceous plant, Cyperus papyrus, of S Europe and N and central Africa with small green-stalked flowers arranged like umbrella spokes around the stem top
2. a kind of paper made from the stem pith of this plant, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans
3. an ancient document written on this paper

Other Words From

• pa·pyral pa·pyr·i·an [p, uh, -, pir, -ee-, uh, n], pa·py·rine [p, uh, -, pahy, -rin], adjective
• pap·y·ri·tious [pap-, uh, -, rish, -, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of papyrus¹

1350–1400; Middle English papirus < Latin papȳrus < Greek pápȳros

Word History and Origins

Origin of papyrus¹

C14: via Latin from Greek papūros reed used in making paper

Example Sentences

First, he consulted the Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian text of medical recipes from 1500 B.C.

From New York Times

When we walk back into Scent Bar, I bolt toward the counter where I left the Ma Nishtana bottle, and next to it I notice a simple, cylindrical bottle of a perfume I’d never seen, or heard of, called Papyrus Oud by Parle Moi de Parfum.

From Los Angeles Times

As I sit in the car, the smell of Papyrus Oud filling space, I feel so full — maybe it’s from the dopamine hit of just spending $150, but mostly, I think, from finding a fragrance that feels like a self-portrait.

From Los Angeles Times

Wheat-based glues have a long history in bookbinding that originates in ancient Egyptian texts, which experts have partially attributed to the longevity of the world's collection of papyrus documents.

From Salon

The messenger unwraps the sash and gives me a small piece of papyrus.

From Literature

Related Words

• card
• note
• pad
• poster
• sheet
• stationery