paper

PAY-pur/ˈpeɪpɚ/PAY-puh/ˈpeɪpə/

27 meanings of paper

1
sheet materialnouncountable or uncountable
A thin, flat material made from wood fibers, used for writing, printing, or wrapping things.
Like a thin, flat sheet you can write on, fold, or tear.
She folded the paper into a small airplane.
Most paper is made from wood pulp these days.
UsageSay a piece of paper (not ~~incorrect: a paper~~).
2
daily newsnouncountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis
Short for newspaper. Use this form when talking about the daily or weekly news publication people read.
I read about the election in this morning's paper.
He delivers the paper to houses on our street.
UsageSay in the paper: I read it in the paper.
Note
3
research articlenouncountable or uncountable
A piece of writing about one subject, like a school essay, a report, or a research article.
Her paper on coral bleaching was accepted by a leading journal.
They presented a paper at the robotics conference last spring.
UsageSay a paper on a subject: she wrote a paper on coral.
Similararticle, essay, study, report
Note
4
made of itadjective
Made out of paper.
She made a row of paper boats and floated them in the tub.
The decorations were flimsy paper lanterns.
5
only in theoryadjective
Existing only in plans or in name, not in real life.
Like a house that only exists in a drawing, not built yet.
The new line was still a paper railway, with no track laid.
It was only a paper company, with no office and no workers.
UsageBefore a noun: a paper company. On paper means only in theory.
Similarnominal, notional, theoretical
Oppositereal, actual
Note
6
financial notesnoununcountable
Forms of money or value that are written or printed, not coins.
Like a ticket that stands for money instead of using coins.
The bank traded short-term paper to earn interest.
Many traders prefer paper over coins because it is easier to carry.
Similarsecurities, debt, bills, notes
Note
7
examnounBritishHong Kongcountable or uncountable
A set of exam questions to answer in one sitting.
She revised all weekend before sitting her biology paper.
The history paper included three essays and a comprehension passage.
UsageSay sit a paper or take a paper.
Similarexam, test, examination
8
official documentsnouncountable
Official documents that prove things like who you are or what you own.
She keeps her passport and other papers in a safe place.
The police stopped the truck and checked the driver's papers.
Similardocuments, documentation
Note

Less common meanings

9
money (slang)nounslangcountable or uncountable
Money, especially cash.
He's out there every day trying to make some paper.
She stacked her paper and bought the car in cash.
UsageMake paper means make money.
Similarcash, dough, bread, bank
10
hollowadjective
Weak and flimsy, without real strength.
Like a wall made of paper that falls over if you push it.
Their defense turned out to be a paper wall that collapsed under pressure.
He made only paper promises that fell apart at the first test.
UsageCommon in paper tiger: something that only looks strong.
Similarflimsy, hollow, toothless, token, ineffectual
Oppositereal, effective, robust
Note
11
open handnouncountable or uncountable
In the game rock-paper-scissors, a flat open hand that beats rock but loses to scissors.
She threw paper while he went with rock, so she won the round.
I always open with paper to throw off my opponent.
12
gift wrapnoununcountableabbreviationellipsis
Short for wrapping paper. Use it for the colorful paper that covers gifts.
She wrapped each present in shiny gold paper.
Tear the paper off and see what's inside!
UsageSay wrap it in paper.
Note
13
wall coveringnoununcountableabbreviationellipsis
Short for wallpaper: the decorated paper that covers the walls of a room.
We hung new paper in the hallway over the weekend.
The old paper was peeling off the bedroom walls.
UsageMost people say wallpaper.
Note
14
decorate wallsverbtransitive
To cover a surface with paper.
They papered the nursery in soft yellow stripes.
We need to paper this wall before the guests arrive.
UsageSay paper a wall in stripes.
Similarwallpaper, line, cover, decorate
Oppositestrip
15
toilet roll prankverbdialectalNortheasternUStransitive
To throw toilet paper all over someone's house and yard as a prank.
Like decorating a house with streamers, but using rolls of toilet paper as a joke.
Every Halloween the seniors paper the principal's house.
They decided to paper his yard after the big game.
UsageMany people say TP a house.
SimilarTP
16
put in writingverbtransitive
To put something in writing as an official record.
The lawyers papered the agreement before the deadline.
Make sure you paper every decision the board makes.
UsageOften paper something up.
Similardocument, record, log, register
17
file in courtverbtransitive
To hand in official documents to a court or office.
Like handing in your homework to the teacher before it is due.
The lawyer papered the court with all the needed forms.
The lawyers plan to paper the court with motions to delay the trial.
UsageSay paper the court with forms.
Similarfile, petition
Note
18
insect nest materialnouncountable or uncountable
A thin, paper-like material that some insects make to protect their nests and eggs.
Like a thin shell made of chewed-up wood, built by insects.
Wasps chew wood to make the paper for their nests.
The nest was built from thin gray paper the insects produced.
19
university coursenounNew Zealandcountable or uncountable
A single course of study at a university.
Like one class you sign up for at college.
She enrolled in three papers this semester.
I'm taking a paper in linguistics this year.
UsageSay take a paper in a subject.
Similarcourse, module, subject, unit
20
fill the seatsverbtransitive
To fill a show or paid event with people who got free tickets.
The team gave away tickets to paper the stadium for its first home game.
The owners paper the hall so it looks full.
UsageSay paper the house.
Similarfill, pack
Note
21
noundatedcountable or uncountable
Free tickets to a show, or the people who got in with them.
Note
22
verbrare
To wrap something up in paper.
23
noundated
A small folded packet made of paper that holds a set amount of something.
24
verbdated
To rub something smooth using sandpaper.
25
verbrare
To put up posters saying that the police want to find someone.
26
noun
A medicine spread on paper that you put on the skin.
27
verbrare
To glue the blank pages at the front and back of a book before adding its cover.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin "papȳrus", which came from the Ancient Greek word "pápuros". English got the word through Old French and Middle English.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

English paper derives ultimately from Latin papȳrus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin papȳrus was borrowed from Ancient Greek pápuros. en.wiktionary.org
The transmission to English passed through Old French and Middle English. en.wiktionary.org