paper
/ˈpeɪ̯.pəɹ/ noun A1- 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. · Draw on the paper! Not on the walls!· The paper mill on the south side of town makes various grades of paper and employs hundreds of people.
- An 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; usually written as a school assignment or a government report. · Near-synonym: report· I can't go out tonight. I have a paper due tomorrow, and I need to finish it tonight.
- 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).
- Money.
- Any financial assets other than specie, including paper money, commercial paper, and others.
- A university course. · a paper in ology· She's taking four papers this semester: two in psychology and two in sociology.
- A paper packet containing a quantity of items. · a paper of pins, tacks, opium, etc.
Plural papers
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
“You see,” continued he, glancing toward the grate, where fragments of burnt paper fluttered in the flames, “the letter is destroyed; you and I alone know of its existence; should you, therefore, be questioned, deny all knowledge of it—deny it boldly, and you are saved.”
He leaned upon his hand, with his untasted breakfast before him, and he stared at the slip of paper which he had just drawn from its envelope.
He pointed to one corner, in which lay the great Head, made out of many thicknesses of paper, and with a carefully painted face.
So, you see, our papers were quickly written out, and certainly do not come very expensive.” This joke elicited a fresh burst of applause.
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