paper

[ pey-per ]

noun

1. a substance made from wood pulp, rags, straw, or other fibrous material, usually in thin sheets, used to bear writing or printing, for wrapping things, etc.
2. a piece, sheet, or leaf of this.
3. something resembling this substance, as papyrus.
4. a written or printed document or the like.
5. stationery; writing paper.
6. a newspaper or journal.
7. an essay, article, or dissertation on a particular topic:

   a paper on early Mayan artifacts.

8. Often papers. a document establishing or verifying identity, status, or the like:

   citizenship papers.

9. negotiable notes, bills, etc., as commercial paper or paper money:

   Only silver, please, no paper.

10. a promissory note.
11. papers,
    1. Nautical. ship's papers.
    2. rolling paper.
12. wallpaper.
13. toilet paper.
14. a sheet or card of paper with pins or needles stuck through it in rows.
15. a set of questions for an examination, an individual set of written answers to them, or any written piece of schoolwork.
16. Slang. a free pass to an entertainment.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with wallpaper or apply wallpaper to:

   They papered the bedroom last summer.

2. to line or cover with paper.
3. to distribute handbills, posters, etc., throughout:

   to paper a neighborhood with campaign literature.

4. to fold, enclose, or wrap in paper.
5. to supply with paper.
6. Informal. to deluge with documents, especially those requiring one to comply with certain technical procedures, as a means of legal harassment:

   He papered the plaintiff to force a settlement.

7. Slang. to fill (a theater or the like) with spectators by giving away free tickets or passes.
8. Archaic.
   1. to write or set down on paper.
   2. to describe in writing.

verb (used without object)

1. to apply wallpaper to walls.

adjective

1. made of paper or paperlike material:

   a paper bag.

2. paperlike; thin, flimsy, or frail.
3. of, relating to, or noting routine clerical duties.
4. pertaining to or carried on by means of letters, articles, books, etc.:

   a paper war.

5. written or printed on paper.
6. existing in theory or principle only and not in reality:

   paper profits.

7. indicating the first event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.
8. Slang. including many patrons admitted on free passes, as an audience for a theatrical performance:

   It's a paper house tonight.

verb phrase

1. to patch up or attempt to conceal (a difference, disagreement, etc.) so as to preserve a friendship, present a unified opinion, etc.:

   to paper over a dispute.

paper

/ ˈpeɪpə /

noun

1. a substance made from cellulose fibres derived from rags, wood, etc, often with other additives, and formed into flat thin sheets suitable for writing on, decorating walls, wrapping, etc papyraceous
2. a single piece of such material, esp if written or printed on
3. usually plural documents for establishing the identity of the bearer; credentials
4. Also calledship's papers plural official documents relating to the ownership, cargo, etc, of a ship
5. plural collected diaries, letters, etc
6. See newspaper wallpaper
7. government See white paper green paper command paper
8. a lecture or short published treatise on a specific subject
9. a short essay, as by a student
10. 1. a set of written examination questions
    2. the student's answers
11. commerce See commercial paper
12. slang.
    theatre a free ticket
13. on paper
    in theory, as opposed to fact

    it was a good idea on paper, but failed in practice

adjective

1. made of paper

   paper cups do not last long

2. thin like paper

   paper walls

3. prenominal existing only as recorded on paper but not yet in practice

   paper profits

   paper expenditure

4. taking place in writing

   paper battles

verb

1. to cover (walls) with wallpaper
2. tr to cover or furnish with paper
3. slang.
   tr theatre to fill (a performance) by giving away free tickets (esp in the phrase paper the house )

Derived Forms

• ˈpaperer, noun

Other Words From

• paper·less adjective
• paper·like adjective
• re·paper verb (used with object)
• un·papered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English papire, from Latin papȳrus papyrus

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper¹

C14: from Latin papyrus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on paper,
   1. in written or printed form.
   2. in theory rather than in practice.
   3. existing only in a preliminary state; in a plan or design:

      The university building program is still only on paper.

More idioms and phrases containing paper

In addition to the idiom beginning with paper , also see on paper ; push paper ; walking papers .

Example Sentences

In a subsequent paper it argued that climate change was “the most important environmental challenge facing the world.”

From Salon

She wanted help identifying a document she’d found among Molina’s papers — it was a fax; it might as well have been a stone tablet to her — from county archives.

From Los Angeles Times

A recent paper found that women experiencing premature menopause, particularly in the age group of 30–39 years, is also on the rise.

From BBC

Health students saw high levels of dropouts after botched exam papers in 2022, which saw the exam board responsible fined £300,000.

From BBC

Gethins, who represents Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, told the Courier newspaper he had submitted an application to keep his vetting papers "up to date" and noted there were no local vacancies for SNP candidates.

From BBC