paper

2 syllables

Quick answer

As a noun, paper means a sheet material typically used for writing on or printing on (or as a non-waterproof container), usually made by draining cellulose fibres from a suspension in water. As an adjective, it means made of paper.

Meanings of paper

38 meanings

noun

A sheet material typically used for writing on or printing on (or as a non-waterproof container), usually made by draining cellulose fibres from a suspension in water.
A newspaper or anything used as such (such as a newsletter or listing magazine).
Wallpaper.
Wrapping paper.
rock paper scissorsAn open hand (a handshape resembling a sheet of paper), that beats rock and loses to scissors. It loses to lizard and beats Spock in rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock.
A written document, generally shorter than a book (white paper, term paper), in particular one written for the Government.
A written document that reports scientific or academic research and is usually subjected to peer review before publication in a scientific journal (as a journal article or the manuscript for one) or in the proceedings of a scientific or academic meeting (such as a conference, workshop, or symposium).
A scholastic essay.
UKA set of examination questions to be answered at one session.
slangMoney.
financeAny financial assets other than specie.
New ZealandA university course.
A paper packet containing a quantity of items.
“a paper of pins, tacks, opium, etc.”
A medicinal preparation spread upon paper, intended for external application.
“cantharides paper”

Older and rare meanings (2)

datedFree passes of admission to a theatre, etc.
datedThe people admitted by free passes.

adjective

Made of paper.
“paper bag; paper plane”
Insubstantial (from the weakness of common paper)
“paper tiger; paper gangster”
Planned (from plans being drawn up on paper)
“paper rocket; paper engine”
Having a title that is merely official, or given by courtesy or convention.
“a paper baron; a paper lord”

verb

To apply paper to.
“to paper the hallway walls”
To document; to memorialize.
“After they reached an agreement, their staffs papered it up.”
To fill (a theatre or other paid event) with complimentary seats.
To submit official papers to (a law court, etc.).
To give public notice (typically by displaying posters) that a person is wanted by the police or other authority.
To sandpaper.
To enfold in paper.
To paste the endpapers and flyleaves at the beginning and end of a book before fitting it into its covers.
Cover with paper
“paper the box”
Cover with wallpaper
Similar: wallpaper