Etymology tree
Ancient Greek πάπυρος (pápuros)bor.
Latin papȳrusslbor.
Old Catalan paperbor.
Anglo-Norman paperbor.
Middle English paper
English paper
From Middle English paper, from Anglo-Norman paper, from Old Catalan paper, borrowed from Latin papȳrus (and given the Catalan suffix -er), from Ancient Greek πάπυρος (pápuros).
Meanings
(not-comparable) Made of paper.
At twilight in the summer[…]the mice come out. They[…]eat the luncheon crumbs. Mr. Checkly, for instance, always brought his dinner in a paper parcel in his coat-tail pocket, and ate it when so disposed, sprinkling crumbs lavishly[…]on the floor. 1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:
(not-comparable) Insubstantial (from the weakness of common paper).
2016: Manila Standard, "Speed limiter law: A paper tiger"; Maricel Cruz
Speed limiter law: A paper tiger
paper gangster
2016: The Australian, "China says Australia ‘is no paper tiger, only a paper cat at best’"; Rowan Callick
It concluded that Australia was “not even a paper tiger, it’s only a paper cat at best”
(not-comparable) Planned (from plans being drawn up on paper).
2015: CBS News, "ULA unveils new rocket to replace Russian boosters"; William Harwood
In a background teleconference hosted by SpaceX late last week, an unnamed official dismissed ULA's new booster as a "paper rocket," saying he doubted it would be significantly cheaper than ULA's current stable of launchers.
2010: BBC News, "Pratt & Whitney eyes global plane engine deals"; Jorn Madslien
Ours is not a paper engine... these are real engines that are in production today
"The Ares 1 is a paper rocket that's far off in the future," Musk said. "Falcon 9 is a real rocket, most of which is at Cape Canaveral right now." 2010 January 19, Stephen Clark, “Musk refutes report slamming safety standards”, in Spaceflight Now, archived from the original on 08 Dec 2018:
paper engine, rocket
"We have to be able to demonstrate that it is not just a paper engine but a real engine" and that development work has "mitigated all the risk". , Dominic Perr, “Airbus Helicopters to begin Arrano tests for H160 shortly”, in Flight Global, archived from the original on 26 Apr 2025:
(not-comparable) Having a title that is merely official, or given by courtesy or convention.
de Papierbecher (made of paper) · uk паперо́вий (made of paper) · ja 製紙 (made of paper) · cs papírový (made of paper) · hi काग़ज़ी (made of paper) · ms kertas (made of paper) · id dari bahan kertas (made of paper) · it di carta (made of paper) · no papir (made of paper) · br paper (made of paper) · ro de hârtie (made of paper) · vi trên giấy tờ (having a title that is merely official) · es de papel (made of paper) · it cartaceo (made of paper) · hi कागजी (made of paper) · zh 紙製的 /纸制的 (made of paper) · pl na papierze (having a title that is merely official) · vi bằng giấy (made of paper) · bg хартиен (made of paper) · el χάρτινος (made of paper) · fr de papier (made of paper) · pt de papel (made of paper) · hi वरकी (made of paper) · nl papieren (made of paper) · is pappírs- (made of paper) · bg на книга (having a title that is merely official) · is pappa- (made of paper) · ar وَرَقِيّ (made of paper) · fr en papier (made of paper) · sv pappers- (made of paper) · bg книжен (made of paper) · es papelero (made of paper) · fi paperinen (made of paper) · et paber- (made of paper) · et paberist (made of paper) · tr kağıt (made of paper) · he נייר (made of paper) · mr कागदी (made of paper) · hu papír (made of paper) · fi paperi- (made of paper) · vi ảo (having a title that is merely official) · te కాగితపు (made of paper) · pl papierowy (made of paper) · be папяро́вы (made of paper) · ru бума́жный (made of paper) · fa کاغذی (made of paper) · pl papierowy (having a title that is merely official) · de etc (made of paper)
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek πάπυρος (pápuros)bor.
Latin papȳrusslbor.
Old Catalan paperbor.
Anglo-Norman paperbor.
Middle English paper
English paper
From Middle English paper, from Anglo-Norman paper, from Old Catalan paper, borrowed from Latin papȳrus (and given the Catalan suffix -er), from Ancient Greek πάπυρος (pápuros).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) 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.
The paper mill on the south side of town makes various grades of paper and employs hundreds of people.
He looked round the poor room, at the distempered walls, and the bad engravings in meretricious frames, the crinkly paper and wax flowers on the chiffonier; and he thought of a room like Father Bryan's, with panelling, with cut glass, with tulips in silver pots, such a room as he had hoped to have for his own. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
Draw on the paper! Not on the walls!
(abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of newspaper; anything used as such (such as a newsletter or listing magazine).
"I don't want to spoil any comparison you are going to make," said Jim, "but I was at Winchester and New College." ¶ "That will do," said Mackenzie. "I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal.[…]." 1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter II, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC:
In those days, the Reporter Dispatch was the paper of record around here, and everyone who was anyone took the paper [was a subscriber].
Read all about it in this morning's paper!
However, Anyon Kay remembers a Mr Walton Ainsworth, of Beech House, Rivington, who owned mills in Bolton, being a regular user before the First World War. He used to drive by horse and trap from his mansion to catch the 0906 train to Bolton each day. Before arriving at the station, local newsagent Tom Dutton would hand Mr Ainsworth his morning paper! 2023 March 8, Paul Salveson, “Fond farewells to two final trains...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 54:
“Anthea hasn't a notion in her head but to vamp a lot of silly mugwumps. She's set her heart on that tennis bloke[…]whom the papers are making such a fuss about.” 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court:
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of wallpaper.
There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls. 1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter II, in The Lodger, London: Methuen, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0091:
The paperhangers had just finished hanging the paper in the dining room when the interior decorator walked in and exclaimed that it was the wrong color.
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of wrapping paper.
The kids could hardly wait to tear the paper off their Christmas gifts.
In those days, you asked the butcher for a block of cheese, and he wrapped it up in paper for you.
(countable, uncountable) 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.
(countable, uncountable) A written document, generally shorter than a book; usually written as a school assignment or a government report.
I can't go out tonight. I have a paper due tomorrow, and I need to finish it tonight.
Near-synonym: report
(countable, uncountable) 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).
Paper after paper spells out how vulnerable we are to internet-induced brain rot. “High levels of internet usage and heavy media multitasking are associated with decreased grey matter in prefrontal regions,” finds one. 2024 December 9, Siân Boyle, “Is doom scrolling really rotting our brains? The evidence is getting harder to ignore”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Feb 2026:
Their team published a paper in the leading journal of their field, and its widespread impact elevated the reputation of their university department.
This paper surveys the research methods and approaches used in the multidisciplinary field of applied language studies or language education over the last fourty^([sic]) years. Drawing on insights gained in psycho- and sociolinguistics, educational linguistics and linguistic anthropology with regard to language and culture, it is organized around five major questions that concern language educators. 2014 January 14, Claire Kramsch, “Language and Culture”, in AILA Review, volume 27, number 5, John Benjamins, →DOI, →ISSN, page 30:
(Hong-Kong, UK, countable, uncountable) A set of examination questions to be answered at one session.
(countable, slang, uncountable) Money.
(uncountable) Any financial assets other than specie, including paper money, commercial paper, and others.
That great, rich institution,[…]has three millions and a half specie in its vaults, and nearly six millions invested in paper, loans, discounts, pledges—suddenly turned up the other day[…]. 1859, The Bankers' Magazine, and Statistical Register, volume 14, page 244:
Why might not a Government annuity, the Principal of which was originally invested in Paper since the Cash suspension in 1797, be constituted the guarantee of Paper Money, emendating from that investiture and suspension, and the Parliament authority transferred to its security, as it has been to its creation, in preference to all others, while Paper continues our general Medium. 1812, William Major, Theory of Money and Exchanges, page XV:
(New-Zealand, countable) A university course.
In 1938 he passed the final paper (in psychology) needed to complete his BA degree. 2017 September 29, Terry Sturm, Simply by Sailing in a New Direction: Allen Curnow: A Biography, Auckland University Press, →ISBN:
a paper in ology
She's taking four papers this semester: two in psychology and two in sociology.
A candidate who has taken or is taking a paper for any particular unit will not (except in the case of a change of syllabus) be permitted to take the same paper, or a more elementary paper, for any other unit. 1969, University of Auckland, Calendar:
She continued her university studies by taking a paper in psychology, which was taught principally by John Money, a strikingly handsome young junior lecturer. 2002, Michael King, An Inward Sun: The World of Janet Frame, Penguin Books (New Zealand):
(countable, uncountable) A paper packet containing a quantity of items.
a paper of pins, tacks, opium, etc.
(countable, uncountable) A medicinal preparation spread upon paper, intended for external application.
cantharides paper
(countable, uncountable) A substance resembling paper secreted by certain invertebrates as protection for their nests and eggs.
(countable, dated, uncountable) Free passes of admission to a theatre, etc.
(broadly, countable, dated, uncountable) The people admitted by free passes.
ja 論文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · pa ਪੇਪਰ (sheet material) · ckb قاقەز (sheet material) · kab lkaɣeḍ (sheet material) · so qardaas (sheet material) · csb papiór (sheet material) · rm palpieri (sheet material) · inh каьхат (sheet material) · ang carte (sheet material) · am ወረቀት (sheet material) · ta காகிதம் (sheet material) · nl document (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · fi paperi (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · ru бума́га (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · pt artigo (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · mns-nor нэ̄пак (sheet material) · pl artykuł (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · hi दस्तावेज (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · haw kālana (sheet material) · tts กระดาษ (sheet material) · nl artikel (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · fa کاغَذ (sheet material) · sh ха̀ртија (sheet material) · crs papye (sheet material) · wa papî (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · aii ܐܲܪܒ݂ܵܢܵܐ (sheet material) · te కాగితము (sheet material) · fi aine (academic essay — see also essay, work, composition) · ab aқьаад (sheet material) · az kağız (sheet material) · cdo 紙 /纸 (sheet material) · rgn chêrta (sheet material) · id naskah (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · cy dogfen (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · esu kalikaq (sheet material) · wa papî (sheet material) · ks کاکَد (sheet material) · hi शोध पत्र (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · ady тхылъыпӏ (sheet material) · aa warkát (sheet material) · mdh karatas (sheet material) · rm pupi (sheet material) · id tesis (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · or କାଗଜ (sheet material) · xal цаасн (sheet material) · nb artikkel (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · lo ເຈ້ຍ (sheet material) · bg харти́я (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · kac maisau (sheet material) · tk kagyz (sheet material) · chr ᎪᏪᎵ (sheet material) · fr papier (sheet material) · it saggio (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · mk докуме́нт (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · fo pappír (sheet material) · hak 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · nb papir (sheet material) · cy papur academaidd (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · hi कागज (sheet material) · ppl amat (sheet material) · niv хаузул (sheet material) · as তুলাপাত (sheet material) · tpi pepa (sheet material) · de Papier (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · ia papiro (sheet material) · ru бума́га (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · cs článek (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · bg рефера́т (academic essay — see also essay, work, composition) · ps کاغذ (sheet material) · zh 紙 /纸 (sheet material) · gl papel (sheet material) · fr feuille (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · ba ҡағыҙ (sheet material) · fi kurssi (university course) · cy papur (sheet material) · jv dluwang (sheet material) · alt кагас (sheet material) · za ceij (sheet material) · fr article (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · alt чаазын (sheet material) · ru статья́ (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · ka ქაღალდი (sheet material) · zh 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · bi pepa (sheet material) · tr kâğıt (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · io papero (sheet material) · bg харти́я (sheet material) · hi पत्र (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · el έγγραφο (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · unm pampil (sheet material) · fr rédaction (academic essay — see also essay, work, composition) · fi tutkielma (academic essay — see also essay, work, composition) · de Dokument (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · tl papel (sheet material) · gu કાગળિયું (sheet material) · av кагъат (sheet material) · chk taropwe (sheet material) · ru статья́ (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · dv ކަރުދާސް (sheet material) · id dokumen (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · et paber (sheet material) · rm pupier (sheet material) · izh bumaga (sheet material) · pl papiery (slang: money) · ar ورق (sheet material) · hi कागद (sheet material) · aer pepe (sheet material) · ain カㇺビ (sheet material) · krl bumuagu (sheet material) · aeb كَاغِتْ (sheet material) · mrw karatas (sheet material) · izh kirnahka (sheet material) · os гӕгъӕди (sheet material) · wuu 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · udm кагаз (sheet material) · fi paperi (medicinal preparation) · ty parau (sheet material) · eu paper (sheet material) · rm pulpier (sheet material) · tli x’úx’ (sheet material) · xh iphepha (sheet material) · kn ಕಾಗದ (sheet material) · uli babiyoar (sheet material) · fur cjarte (sheet material) · hi किरतास (sheet material) · ru докуме́нт (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · ro hârtie (sheet material) · xcl թուղթ (sheet material) · cs papír (sheet material) · mwr कागद (sheet material) · pl zielone (slang: money) · pt artigo (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · khb ᦂᦡᦱᧆ (sheet material) · ja 紙 (sheet material) · so xaansho (sheet material) · rsk папер (sheet material) · haw kānana (sheet material) · arq كاغط (sheet material) · id kertas (sheet material) · af papier (sheet material) · fi raportti (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · sh па̀пӣр (sheet material) · fa کَاغِذ (sheet material) · si කඩදාසිය (sheet material) · lez кагъаз (sheet material) · ur کاغَذ (sheet material) · gu કાગળ (sheet material) · pa ਕਾਗ਼ਜ਼ (sheet material) · qu raphi (sheet material) · ar كَاغِد (sheet material) · ko 보 (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · rm palpiri (sheet material) · sq letër (sheet material) · bg докуме́нт (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · it carta (sheet material) · sva ქაღალთ (sheet material) · mnp 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · de Artikel (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · nl werk (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · rom papiri (sheet material) · yue 包 (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · ar ورقة (sheet material) · wuu 紙頭 /纸头 (sheet material) · it pubblicazione (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · da papir (sheet material) · hsb papjera (sheet material) · bxd mau³¹sau³¹ (sheet material) · pl artykuł (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · lo ກະດາດ (sheet material) · tzj wuuj (sheet material) · rm palperi (sheet material) · ta பேப்பர் (sheet material) · sk papier (sheet material) · sw karatasi (sheet material) · th บทความวิชาการ (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · shu كتكت (sheet material) · yi פּאַפּיר (sheet material) · sq kartë (sheet material) · hu papír (sheet material) · es escripto (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · tt кәгазь (sheet material) · rup hãrtii (sheet material) · lbe чагъар (sheet material) · fi julkaisu (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · crh kâğıt (sheet material) · kjh чаӌын (sheet material) · zh 紙 /纸 (sheet material) · it articolo (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · dtp kalatas (sheet material) · tpn kûatîara (sheet material) · ca article (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · myv кабала (sheet material) · vi bài văn (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · mi rau (sheet material) · apw nałtsoos (sheet material) · cv хут (sheet material) · nan-tws 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · es escrito (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · gld хаосан (sheet material) · hi दस्तावेज़ (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · nl papier (sheet material) · myp kapiigá (sheet material) · tab кагъаз (sheet material) · lv papīrs (sheet material) · mk хартија (sheet material) · fi paperi (sheet material) · fud pepa (sheet material) · tet surat-tahan (sheet material) · xmf ქაღარდი (sheet material) · hi पन्ना (sheet material) · so warqad (sheet material) · la charta (sheet material) · arc ܩܲܪܛܝܼܣܵܐ (sheet material) · ro document (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · kum кагъыз (sheet material) · ar ورق (sheet material) · aii ܘܲܪܲܩܬܵܐ (sheet material) · te దస్తావేజు (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · tkl pepa (sheet material) · kxd keratas (sheet material) · cjy 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · mi pepa (sheet material) · oc papièr (sheet material) · it ricerca (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · tr makale (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · uk папі́р (sheet material) · es ponencia (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · gd pàipear (sheet material) · nah amatl (sheet material) · grc χάρτης (sheet material) · rm palpier (sheet material) · mnc ᡥᠣᠣᡧᠠᠨ (sheet material) · kmr kaxez (sheet material) · arc ܘܲܪܲܩܬ݂ܵܐ (sheet material) · hi पेपर (sheet material) · mfe papie (sheet material) · bua саарһан (sheet material) · sd پنو (sheet material) · lb Pabeier (sheet material) · nb ark (sheet material) · lo ເຈັ້ຍ (sheet material) · krc къагъыт (sheet material) · it studio (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · uz qogʻoz (sheet material) · pau babier (sheet material) · th กระดาษ (sheet material) · bg статия (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · tr kâğıt (sheet material) · ms kertas (sheet material) · es paper (academic essay — see also essay, work, composition) · es paper (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · it articolo (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · ota كاغد (sheet material) · he נייר \ נְיָר (sheet material) · as কাগজ (sheet material) · rom lil (sheet material) · srn papira (sheet material) · hy թուղթ (sheet material) · myz ࡊࡀࡂࡉࡃ (sheet material) · ks کاغَذ (sheet material) · pua sïranda (sheet material) · ga páipéar (sheet material) · pl papier (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · izh paperi (sheet material) · wa documint (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · fy papier (sheet material) · haw pepa (sheet material) · nl eindwerk (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · eo papero (sheet material) · zh 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · mn ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠰᠤ (sheet material) · mg taratasy (sheet material) · id surat-surat (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · mn цаас (sheet material) · ast papel (sheet material) · ml പേപ്പർ (sheet material) · my စက္ကူ (sheet material) · dsb papjera (sheet material) · nog кагыт (sheet material) · kmr perr (sheet material) · cdo 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · aer pipe (sheet material) · yo ìwé (sheet material) · ca article (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · ar كاغط (sheet material) · niv хаулус (sheet material) · wls pepa (sheet material) · mdf кагод (sheet material) · xmf ქარღადი (sheet material) · pt papel (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · gv pabyr (sheet material) · bal کاگد (sheet material) · or ପେପର୍ (sheet material) · tg коғаз (sheet material) · vi giấy (sheet material) · hi काग़ज़ (sheet material) · ckb کاغەز (sheet material) · is pappír (sheet material) · tt кыйагаз (sheet material) · fi artikkeli (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · fr cours (university course) · tr evrak (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · fr papier (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · sv papper (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · be папе́ра (sheet material) · sh pàpīr (sheet material) · tr çönge (sheet material) · bg кни́жен паке́т (paper packet) · mr कागद (sheet material) · izh kirjanahka (sheet material) · rue папі́рь (sheet material) · ar وَرَقَة (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · gug kuatia (sheet material) · yue 紙 /纸 (sheet material) · ru бума́га (sheet material) · sh hàrtija (sheet material) · hak 紙 /纸 (sheet material) · ar وَرَق (sheet material) · el χαρτί (sheet material) · ang paper (sheet material) · pt papel (sheet material) · ce кехат (sheet material) · jje 종이 (sheet material) · sv papper (sheet material) · ar ورقة (sheet material) · fi tuohi (slang: money) · sl papír (sheet material) · yue 論文 /论文 (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · ko 종이 (sheet material) · de Referat (academic essay — see also essay, work, composition) · vo papür (sheet material) · tr kağıt (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · zh 布 (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · fa کَاغَذ (sheet material) · id karangan (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · bg ста́тия (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · fi paperipakkaus (paper packet) · rom xertija (sheet material) · es redacción (academic essay — see also essay, work, composition) · de Papier (sheet material) · ml കടലാസ് (sheet material) · ne कागज (sheet material) · ar قِرْطَاس (sheet material) · fa کاغِذ (sheet material) · wa årtike (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · nn papir (sheet material) · shn ၸေႈ (sheet material) · fi tutkimus (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · kk қағаз (sheet material) · sv artikel (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · mk статија (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · os гӕххӕтт (sheet material) · myv конёв (sheet material) · sd ڪاغذ (sheet material) · bn কাগজ (sheet material) · hi वरक (sheet material) · fi esitelmä (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · ti ወረቐት (sheet material) · br paper (sheet material) · ar وَرَقَة (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · hu cikk (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · ja パー (open hand in the game of rock paper scissors) · aii ܐܘܼܪܩܲܥܬ݂ܵܐ (sheet material) · lt popierius (sheet material) · pl papier (sheet material) · he דַּף (sheet material) · sah кумааҕы (sheet material) · sv artikel (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · es papel (sheet material) · ug قەغەز (sheet material) · cs článek (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · ht papye (sheet material) · es papel académico (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · ca paper (sheet material) · km ក្រដាស (sheet material) · shu كتكتاي (sheet material) · ky кагаз (sheet material) · ks کاکَذ (sheet material) · fi aski (paper packet) · fo ritgerð (academic paper — see also article, study, publication) · uk докуме́нт (written document shorter than a book — see also article) · bo ཤོག་བུ (sheet material) · bh कागज (sheet material) · as কাকত (sheet material) · mt karta (sheet material) · zh зы (sheet material)
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek πάπυρος (pápuros)bor.
Latin papȳrusslbor.
Old Catalan paperbor.
Anglo-Norman paperbor.
Middle English paper
English paper
From Middle English paper, from Anglo-Norman paper, from Old Catalan paper, borrowed from Latin papȳrus (and given the Catalan suffix -er), from Ancient Greek πάπυρος (pápuros).
Meanings
(transitive) To apply paper to.
to paper the hallway walls
(transitive) To document; to memorialize.
After they reached an agreement, their staffs papered it up.
(transitive) To fill (a theatre or other paid event) with complimentary seats.
Later, seat-filling or “papering” services cropped up, with organizations like Audience Extras, Play-by-Play,[…] 2020 April 1, Kelly Kessler, Broadway in the Box: Television's Lasting Love Affair with the Musical, page 198:
(transitive) To submit official papers to (a law court, etc.).
[…] the warning received only six weeks later for poor attendance as proof that the employer was unjustly papering his personnel file in an effort to create a reason for discharge. 2007, Thomas M. Hanna, The Employer's Legal Advisor: Handling Problem Employees Effectively ...:
As powerhouse lawyers shuttled to Cuba to meet clients and papered the federal courts with habeas corpus petitions, Guantanamo's isolation and lack of publicity, once the military's most powerful psychological weapon, was eliminated. 2006, Drusilla Modjeska, The Best Australian Essays 2006:
(transitive) To give public notice (typically by displaying posters) that a person is wanted by the police or other authority.
(transitive) To sandpaper.
(transitive) To enfold in paper.
To paste the endpapers and flyleaves at the beginning and end of a book before fitting it into its covers.
(Northeastern, US) To cover someone's house with toilet paper. Otherwise known as toilet papering or TPing.
fi paperoida (to apply paper to) · fi tapetoida (to apply paper to) · bg слагам тапети (to apply paper to) · ca empaperar (to apply paper to) · id menempeli (to apply paper to) · cy papuro (to apply paper to) · nl behangen (to apply paper to) · pt empapelar (to apply paper to) · de tapezieren (to apply paper to)