paper (papers plural & 3rd person present) (papering present participle) (papered past tense & past participle )
1 n-uncount Paper is a material that you write on or wrap things with. The pages of this book are made of paper.
He wrote his name down on a piece of paper for me..., She sat at the table with pen and paper., ...a sheet of pretty wrapping paper., ...a paper bag.
2 n-count A paper is a newspaper.
I'll cook and you read the paper.
3 n-count You can refer to newspapers in general as the paper or the papers.
the N
You can't believe everything you read in the paper...
4 n-plural Your papers are sheets of paper with writing or information on them, which you might keep in a safe place at home.
usu with poss
Her papers included unpublished articles and correspondence.
5 n-plural Your papers are official documents, for example your passport or identity card, which prove who you are or which give you official permission to do something.
usu poss N
(=identification)
They have arrested four people who were trying to leave the country with forged papers.
6 n-count A paper is a long, formal piece of writing about an academic subject.
He just published a paper in the journal Nature analyzing the fires.
7 n-count A paper is an essay written by a student.
(mainly AM)
...the ten common errors that appear most frequently in student papers.
→
term paper
8 n-count A paper is a part of a written examination in which you answer a number of questions in a particular period of time.
We sat each paper in the Hall...
9 n-count A paper prepared by a government or a committee is a report on a question they have been considering or a set of proposals for changes in the law.
...a new government paper on European policy.
→
Green Paper
→
White Paper
10 adj Paper agreements, qualifications, or profits are ones that are stated by official documents to exist, although they may not really be effective or useful.
ADJ n
We're looking for people who have experience rather than paper qualifications.
11 verb If you paper a wall, you put wallpaper on it.
We papered all four bedrooms... V n
The room was strange, the walls half papered, half painted. V-ed
12 If you put your thoughts down on paper, you write them down.
on paper phrase PHR after v
It is important to get something down on paper...
13 If something seems to be the case on paper, it seems to be the case from what you read or hear about it, but it may not really be the case.
on paper phrase
On paper, their country is a multi-party democracy...
14 If you say that a promise, an agreement, or a guarantee is not worth the paper it's written on, you mean that although it has been written down and seems to be official, it is in fact worthless because what has been promised will not be done.
not be worth the paper it is written on phrase Vs inflect (disapproval)
paper over phrasal verb If people paper over a disagreement between them, they find a temporary solution to it in order to give the impression that things are going well. ...his determination to paper over the cracks in his party and avoid confrontation... V P n
ballot paper (ballot papers plural )A ballot paper is a piece of paper on which you indicate your choice or opinion in an election or ballot. n-count usu pl
blotting paper
Blotting paper is thick soft paper that you use for soaking up and drying ink on a piece of paper. n-uncount
carbon paper
Carbon paper is thin paper with a dark substance on one side. You use it to make copies of letters, bills, and other papers. n-uncount
The drawing is transferred onto the wood by means of carbon paper.
crepe paper
Crepe paper is stretchy paper with an uneven surface. Coloured crepe paper is often used for making decorations. n-uncount
graph paper
Graph paper is paper that has small squares printed on it so that you can use it for drawing graphs. n-uncount
greaseproof paper
Greaseproof paper is a special kind of paper which does not allow fat or oil to pass through it. It is mainly used in cooking or to wrap food.
(BRIT) n-uncount
in AM, use wax paper
Green Paper (Green Papers plural )In Britain, a Green Paper is a document containing ideas about a particular subject that is published by the Government so that people can discuss them before any decisions are made. n-count
lavatory paper
Lavatory paper is paper that you use to clean yourself after you have got rid of urine or faeces from your body.
(BRIT)
FORMAL n-uncount
(=toilet paper)
in AM, use toilet paper
paper clip (paper clips plural ), paper-clip, paperclip A paper clip is a small piece of bent wire that is used to fasten papers together. n-count
paper knife (paper knives plural ), paper-knife A paper knife is a tool shaped like a knife, which is used for opening envelopes. n-count
paper money
Paper money is money which is made of paper. Paper money is usually worth more than coins. n-uncount
paper round (paper rounds plural )A paper round is a job of delivering newspapers to houses along a particular route. Paper rounds are usually done by children before or after school.
(BRIT) n-count
in AM, use paper route
paper route (paper routes plural )A paper route is the same as a paper round.
(AM) n-count
paper shop (paper shops plural )A paper shop is a shop that sells newspapers and magazines, and also things such as tobacco, sweets, and cards.
(BRIT) n-count
(=newsagent)
paper-thin , paper thin
If something is paper-thin, it is very thin. adj
Cut the onion into paper-thin slices...
paper tiger (paper tigers plural )If you say that an institution, a country, or a person is a paper tiger, you mean that although they seem powerful they do not really have any power. n-count
paper trail
Documents which provide evidence of someone's activities can be referred to as a paper trail.
(mainly AM) n-sing
Criminals are very reluctant to leave a paper trail.
position paper (position papers plural )A position paper is a detailed report which usually explains or recommends a particular course of action. n-count
rice paper
Rice paper is very thin paper made from rice plants. It is used in cooking. n-uncount
term paper (term papers plural )A term paper is an essay or report which a student writes on a subject that he or she has studied during a term at a school, college, or university.
(AM) n-count
toilet paper
Toilet paper is thin soft paper that people use to clean themselves after they have got rid of urine or faeces from their body. n-uncount
touch paper , touchpaper
If someone lights the touch paper or lights the blue touch paper, they do something which causes anger or excitement.
(BRIT, JOURNALISM)
light the (blue) touch paper phrase V inflects
This kind of remark is guaranteed to light the blue touch paper with some Labour politicians.
tracing paper
Tracing paper is transparent paper which you put over a picture so that you can draw over its lines in order to produce a copy of it. n-uncount
waxed paper
Waxed paper is the same as wax paper. n-uncount
wax paper
Wax paper is paper that has been covered with a thin layer of wax. It is used mainly in cooking or to wrap food.
(AM) n-uncount
(=waxed paper)
in BRIT, use greaseproof paper
White Paper (White Papers plural )In Britain, Australia, Canada, and some other countries, a White Paper is an official report which describes the policy of the Government on a particular subject. n-count
wrapping paper (wrapping papers plural )Wrapping paper is special paper which is used for wrapping presents. n-mass
writing paper (writing papers plural )Writing paper is paper for writing letters on. It is usually of good, smooth quality. n-mass
