paper

[ pey-per ]

/ ˈpeɪ pər /

noun

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.

a piece, sheet, or leaf of this.

something resembling this substance, as papyrus.

a written or printed document or the like.

stationery; writing paper.

a newspaper or journal.

an essay, article, or dissertation on a particular topic: a paper on early Mayan artifacts.

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

negotiable notes, bills, etc., as commercial paper or paper money: Only silver, please, no paper.

a promissory note.

papers,

Nautical. ship's papers.
rolling paper.

wallpaper.

toilet paper.

a sheet or card of paper with pins or needles stuck through it in rows.

a set of questions for an examination, an individual set of written answers to them, or any written piece of schoolwork.

Slang. a free pass to an entertainment.

verb (used with object)

to cover with wallpaper or apply wallpaper to: They papered the bedroom last summer.

to line or cover with paper.

to distribute handbills, posters, etc., throughout: to paper a neighborhood with campaign literature.

to fold, enclose, or wrap in paper.

to supply with paper.

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.

Slang. to fill (a theater or the like) with spectators by giving away free tickets or passes.

Archaic.

to write or set down on paper.
to describe in writing.

verb (used without object)

to apply wallpaper to walls.

adjective

made of paper or paperlike material: a paper bag.

paperlike; thin, flimsy, or frail.

of, relating to, or noting routine clerical duties.

pertaining to or carried on by means of letters, articles, books, etc.: a paper war.

written or printed on paper.

existing in theory or principle only and not in reality: paper profits.

indicating the first event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

Slang. including many patrons admitted on free passes, as an audience for a theatrical performance: It's a paper house tonight.

Verb Phrases

paper over, 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.

Idioms for paper

on paper,

in written or printed form.
in theory rather than in practice.
existing only in a preliminary state; in a plan or design: The university building program is still only on paper.

Origin of paper

1325–75; Middle English papire < Latin papȳrus papyrus

OTHER WORDS FROM paper

pa·per·less, adjective pa·per·like, adjective re·pa·per, verb (used with object) un·pa·pered, adjective

Words nearby paper

papaw, papaya, papeete, papelera, papen, paper, paper birch, paper chase, paper chromatography, paper clip, paper cutter

Example sentences from the Web for paperless

The designer has teamed with Paperless Post to create invites directly inspired by his fall collection.

Oscar de la Renta Will Now Sell You Fashionable Invitations |Isabel Wilkinson |May 8, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
But in some states, including New York, paperless tickets are outlawed.

12-12-12 Concert Ticket Scalpers: The Hurricane Sandy Benefit Spoilers |Winston Ross |December 13, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
In 2010, adopting a paperless lifestyle is not an especially rare feat.

My Paperless Life |Nicholas Ciarelli |January 25, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
In the next few years, the paperless lifestyle will only get easier and more prevalent.

My Paperless Life |Nicholas Ciarelli |January 25, 2010 |DAILY BEAST

Some paperless mavens then store these scanned documents on sites like Evernote, so that they can be retrieved anywhere.

My Paperless Life |Nicholas Ciarelli |January 25, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
I've never been paperless before, and there may be some fuss or other.

My Friend the Chauffeur |C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson
Try to tell this to the champions of technology who predicted the paperless office and who now predict the networked world.

The Civilization of Illiteracy |Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for paperless (1 of 2)

paperless

/ (ˈpeɪpəlɪs) /

adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a means of communication, record keeping, etc, esp electronic, that does not use paper the paperless office

British Dictionary definitions for paperless (2 of 2)

paper

/ (ˈpeɪpə) /

noun

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 Related adjective: papyraceous

a single piece of such material, esp if written or printed on

(usually plural) documents for establishing the identity of the bearer; credentials

Also called: ship's papers (plural) official documents relating to the ownership, cargo, etc, of a ship

(plural) collected diaries, letters, etc

See newspaper, wallpaper

government See white paper, green paper, command paper

a lecture or short published treatise on a specific subject

a short essay, as by a student

a set of written examination questions
the student's answers

commerce See commercial paper

theatre slang a free ticket

on paper in theory, as opposed to fact it was a good idea on paper, but failed in practice

adjective

made of paper paper cups do not last long

thin like paper paper walls

(prenominal) existing only as recorded on paper but not yet in practice paper profits; paper expenditure

taking place in writing paper battles

verb

to cover (walls) with wallpaper

(tr) to cover or furnish with paper

(tr) theatre slang to fill (a performance) by giving away free tickets (esp in the phrase paper the house)

Derived forms of paper

paperer, noun

Word Origin for paper

C14: from Latin papyrus

Idioms and Phrases with paperless

paper

In addition to the idiom beginning with paper

paper over

also see:

on paper
push paper
walking papers

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

paper

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

Verb Phrases

Idioms for paper

Origin of paper

OTHER WORDS FROM paper

Words nearby paper

Example sentences from the Web for paperless

British Dictionary definitions for paperless (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for paperless (2 of 2)

noun

adjective

verb

Derived forms of paper

Word Origin for paper

Idioms and Phrases with paperless

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

paper

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

Verb Phrases

Idioms for paper

Origin of paper

OTHER WORDS FROM paper

Words nearby paper

Example sentences from the Web for paperless

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for paperless (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for paperless (2 of 2)

noun

adjective

verb

Derived forms of paper

Word Origin for paper

Idioms and Phrases with paperless

British Dictionary definitions for paperless (1 of 2)