para
1
[ pah-rah, pahr-ah ]
/ pɑˈrɑ, ˈpɑr ɑ /
noun, plural pa·ras, pa·ra.
a former copper coin of Turkey, the 40th part of a piaster.
Origin of para
1
1680–90; < Turkish < Persian
pāra literally, piece
Words nearby para
Definition for para (2 of 10)
para
2
[ pah-rah, pahr-ah ]
/ pɑˈrɑ, ˈpɑr ɑ /
noun, plural pa·ras, pa·ra.
- formerly, an aluminum-bronze coin and monetary unit of Yugoslavia, the 100th part of a dinar.
- a coin and monetary unit of Macedonia and Serbia, the 100th part of a dinar.
Origin of para
2
1905–10; < Serbo-Croatian
pàra < Turkish; see
para1
Definition for para (3 of 10)
para
3
[ par-uh ]
/ ˈpær ə /
adjective Chemistry.
noun
Origin of para
3
First recorded in 1875–80; independent use of
para-1
Definition for para (4 of 10)
para
4
[ par-uh ]
/ ˈpær ə /
noun Informal.
a paraprofessional.
a paratrooper.
Definition for para (5 of 10)
para
5
[ par-uh ]
/ ˈpær ə /
noun, plural par·as, par·ae [par-ee] /ˈpær i/. Obstetrics.
Also called parity.
a woman's status regarding the bearing of viable offspring: usually followed by a Roman numeral designating the number of times the woman has given birth.
the woman herself.
Compare
gravida.
Origin of para
5
1880–85; extracted from
primapara,
multipara, etc.
Definition for para (6 of 10)
Pará
[ pah-rah ]
/ pɑˈrɑ /
noun
an estuary in N Brazil: an arm of the Amazon. 200 miles (320 km) long; 40 miles (65 km) wide.
Definition for para (7 of 10)
para-
1
a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, most often attached to verbs and verbal derivatives, with the meanings “at or to one side of, beside, side by side” (parabola; paragraph; parallel; paralysis), “beyond, past, by” (paradox; paragogue); by extension from these senses, this prefix came to designate objects or activities auxiliary to or derivative of that denoted by the base word (parody; paronomasia), and hence abnormal or defective (paranoia), a sense now common in modern scientific coinages (parageusia; paralexia). As an English prefix, para-1 may have any of these senses; it is also productive in the naming of occupational roles considered ancillary or subsidiary to roles requiring more training, or of a higher status, on such models as paramedical and paraprofessional: paralegal; paralibrarian; parapolice.
Chemistry.
a combining form designating the para (1, 4) position in the benzene ring. Abbreviation: p-.
Compare meta-(def 4b), ortho-(def 2b).
Also
especially before a vowel,
par-.
Origin of para-
1
< Greek
para-, combining form representing
pará (preposition) beside, alongside of, by, beyond
Definition for para (8 of 10)
para-
2
a combining form meaning “guard against,” occurring in loanwords from French, or, via French, from Italian: parachute; parasol.
Origin of para-
2
< French < Italian
para, 3rd singular present of
parare to prepare against, ward off < Latin
parāre to
prepare
Definition for para (9 of 10)
para-
3
a combining form extracted from parachute, forming compounds denoting persons or things utilizing parachutes or landed by parachute: paradrop; paradoctor; paraglider; paratrooper.
Definition for para (10 of 10)
Example sentences from the Web for para
British Dictionary definitions for para (1 of 6)
para
1
/ (ˈpɑːrə) /
noun plural -ras or -ra
a monetary unit of Serbia worth one hundredth of a dinar; formerly a monetary unit of Yugoslavia
Word Origin for para
C17: Serbo-Croat, via Turkish from Persian
pārah piece, portion
British Dictionary definitions for para (2 of 6)
para
2
/ (ˈpærə) /
noun informal
- a soldier in an airborne unit
- an airborne unit
a paragraph
British Dictionary definitions for para (3 of 6)
para
3
/ (ˈpɑːrɑː) /
noun plural para
a New Zealand fern, Marattia salicina, with long heavy fronds
Also called: horseshoe fern, king fern
Word Origin for para
Māori
British Dictionary definitions for para (4 of 6)
Pará
/ (Portuguese paˈra) /
noun
a state of N Brazil, on the Atlantic: mostly dense tropical rainforest Capital: Belém. Pop: 6 453 683 (2002). Area: 1 248 042 sq km (474 896 sq miles)
another name for Belém
an estuary in N Brazil into which flow the Tocantins River and a branch of the Amazon. Length: about 320 km (200 miles)
British Dictionary definitions for para (5 of 6)
para-
1
before a vowel par-
prefix
Word Origin for para-
from Greek
para (prep) alongside, beyond
British Dictionary definitions for para (6 of 6)
para-
2
combining form
indicating an object that acts as a protection against something
parachute; parasol
Word Origin for para-
via French from Italian
para-, from
parare to defend, shield against, ultimately from Latin
parāre to prepare
Medical definitions for para (1 of 2)
para
[ păr′ə ]
n.
A woman who has given birth to an infant or infants.
Medical definitions for para (2 of 2)
para-