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paper

paper

∞ 1.0
Thin material made from wood pulp used for writing, printing and wrapping
  • noun
  • /ˈpeɪpər/
: papel
  • Let me get a piece of paper and pen.
  • sheet of paper
  • piece of paper
  • pen and paper

All right, I'm going to use some paper to do my molding.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • As in, write it down on some paper there, on a form.

  • The minute we first put words to paper, we began creating our own styles.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Do you have any pen and paper in the car?

  • I wanted paper, not plastic.

  • I'm going to need more paper, as always.

  • Between breakfast and lunch, he reads the paper or watches TV with the other old men.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Students were ready with pens in hand, paper and paying attention.

  • All wrapped up in tissue paper, with pink ribbons around it.

  • Hey, I've got all of this hand laid handmade paper I bought on Amazon.

  • Do you have any pen and paper in the car?

Synonyms

sheet
vspaper
392 1.0

A single piece of paper used for writing or printing

is the base thin material from which such items are made
piece of paper
vspaper
208 1.0

A single flat sheet used for writing or printing

is the thin material made from wood pulp used in many forms
sheet of paper
vspaper
35 1.0

A single flat piece of paper used for writing or printing

is the thin material made from wood pulp used in many forms
newspaper
vspaper
  • Archaic
21 1.0

Thin rough paper used to print news and for wrapping things

is the plain thin material used for many things beyond mass news printing
tissue paper
vspaper
12 1.0

A very thin, soft paper used to wrap gifts or to blow your nose

is the common thin material rather than this delicate soft type
newsprint
vspaper
11 3.6

Cheap low-quality paper made from wood used for printing newspapers

is the general thin material which may be higher quality and more durable
leaf
vspaper
6 7.7

A single sheet of paper in a book or manuscript

is the raw thin material that the book pages are made from
pad of paper
vspaper
6 1.0

A set of paper sheets joined at one edge for writing or drawing

is the general thin material used to make such bound sets
butcher paper
vspaper
  • US
4 3.3

A strong paper used for wrapping meat to stop blood or juices leaking

is the standard thin material used for many purposes but not specialized wrapping
rice paper
vspaper
3 3.9

A thin, delicate sheet made from the inside of a plant used for writing, painting, or wrapping

is the common thin wood-pulp material rather than this delicate plant-based type
writing paper
vspaper
2 1.0

Thin paper you use to write letters by hand

is the basic thin material used across many writing and printing forms
notepaper
vspaper
2 1.0

Small sheets of paper for short notes or letters

is the broader thin material used for notes as well as many items
letter paper
vspaper
  • US
1 1.0

Paper in a common size used for writing letters

is the basic thin material used to produce those correspondence sheets
computer paper
vspaper
  • Specialized
1 2.3

Long paper with holes along the sides used in old printers like dot-matrix

is the standard thin material that can be formed into many printer formats
linen paper
vspaper
1 4.3

A high-quality paper that feels like linen and is used for formal letters

is the general thin material made mainly from wood pulp rather than textiles
art paper
vspaper
  • Specialized
1 4.4

Paper that printers use for photos and magazines

is the ordinary thin material not specially treated for fine art
rag paper
vspaper
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A sheet people make from old cloth that lasts a long time

is the usual wood-pulp thin material less focused on long-term durability
typewriter paper
vspaper
  • Archaic
1 6.0

Paper made to be used in a typewriter that is thin and strong

is the general thin material that can be adapted for many machines
manila paper
vspaper
1 3.2

A strong, smooth, light brown sheet used for envelopes, folders, and craft

is the neutral thin material used for general writing, printing, or wrapping
cartridge paper
vspaper
  • UK
1 4.8

Thick good quality paper for drawing or printing

is the common thin material often lighter and less dense than this variant
india paper
vspaper
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A very thin, strong paper used for pages in books like bibles and dictionaries

is the basic thin material that may be thicker or less opaque
groundwood
vspaper
  • Specialized
7.0

Paper made from wood pulp by machines that grind wood, often used for cheap printing

is the broader thin material usually produced by chemical pulping and varying quality

Idioms

108 4.6

It is true in writing or in theory but not always in real life

great on paper
  • Informal
2 6.4

Looks very good on paper but does not work in real life

To be very bad at even simple tasks

Compounds

208 1.0

A single flat sheet used for writing or printing

129 1.0

Soft thin paper for cleaning your bottom after you use the toilet

65 1.0

A disposable paper sheet that soaks up water to dry hands or clean spills

51 1.0

A bag made of paper that shops use to carry things you buy

41 4.0

Papers like emails or receipts that show what someone did

A single flat piece of paper used for writing or printing

34 1.0

A small bent piece of wire or plastic that holds sheets of paper together

28 1.6

A newspaper made by students that reports on school events

22 3.2

A long essay a student writes at the end of a course to show what they learned

18 3.2

A regular job delivering newspapers to homes

18 1.6

Money made of printed paper notes that a government uses

Pretty paper used to cover gifts before giving them

13 1.0

A cup made of paper that you throw away after drinking from it

13 1.0

A plate made of paper or thin cardboard that you throw away after use

white paper
  • Formal
12 5.6

An official report that explains plans or how something works

12 1.0

A very thin, soft paper used to wrap gifts or to blow your nose

11 1.1

A small thin piece of paper for notes or receipts

9 2.5

A thin paper covered in wax used to wrap or line food

8 3.9

Very thin and easily damaged, like a sheet of paper

Thick colored paper used by children for art and crafts

6 2.8

A factory that makes paper from wood or recycled material

6 6.0

A document that explains a group or person's view and gives reasons about an issue

6 1.0

A set of paper sheets joined at one edge for writing or drawing

paper-pusher
  • Offensive
5 6.5

An office worker who spends most of their time doing forms and paperwork

paper doll
  • Baby Talk
5 1.8

A small toy made from paper, cut or folded to look like a person

paper tiger
  • Informal
5 7.1

A person, group, or thing that seems powerful but is actually weak

4 3.1

A thin, wrinkled colored paper used for making decorations and crafts

4 3.3

A strong paper used for wrapping meat to stop blood or juices leaking

Money in printed notes that people use instead of coins

3 3.9

A material made of paper and glue you shape when wet and paint when dry

3 2.0

Paper with a regular grid of fine lines for drawing graphs or charts

3 3.9

A thin, delicate sheet made from the inside of a plant used for writing, painting, or wrapping

A thin strong paper used to roll cigarettes

3 1.8

A written set of questions to check what someone knows or can do

funny paper
  • Archaic
3 5.1

A section of a newspaper with comic strips and cartoons

commercial paper
  • Specialized
3 6.3

A short-term loan companies issue to raise money quickly

2 1.1

Paper that people throw away after use

2 5.3

A heavy paper soaked in tar that you put under a roof to keep out rain

carbon paper
  • Archaic
2 2.7

A thin sheet coated with dark wax that makes a copy when placed between papers

Thin paper you use to write letters by hand

1 1.0

Paper in a common size used for writing letters

computer paper
  • Specialized
1 2.3

Long paper with holes along the sides used in old printers like dot-matrix

1 2.3

A paper with written questions that students answer in a test

A very thin see-through paper you put over a drawing to copy it

filter paper
  • Specialized
1 3.4

Thin paper with tiny holes that lets liquid pass but keeps solid bits

paper tape
  • Archaic
1 3.5

A long narrow strip of paper used to record numbers or data

typing paper
  • Archaic
1 2.3

Thin smooth paper used in a typewriter

1 1.6

A string of paper loops linked together to decorate a room for a party

paper loss
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A fall in an investment's value that is only on paper because you have not sold it

Thin paper that you roll around tobacco to make a cigarette

Paper with a special coating that lets you move a design onto another surface often using heat

A sheet with a surface that is good for drawing or sketching

paper profit
  • Specialized
1 5.1

An increase in how much an investment is worth before you sell it

photographic paper
  • Specialized
1 3.2

Paper covered with a chemical that changes when it sees light, used to make photos

1 2.2

A piece of paper used for quick notes or rough calculations

1 2.4

A tool with a straight blade that cuts sheets of paper

litmus paper
  • Specialized
1 3.7

Thin paper that changes color to show if a liquid is acid or base

1 3.0

Paper with lines for writing music notes

1 7.6

A printed list of items to be discussed in a parliament or assembly that day

1 4.4

A small sharp knife for opening envelopes or cutting closed book pages

1 4.3

A high-quality paper that feels like linen and is used for formal letters

1 3.4

A strong brown paper used for wrapping things and making bags

art paper
  • Specialized
1 4.4

Paper that printers use for photos and magazines

A small open container for throwing away paper and other small rubbish

A set of written questions in a formal test to check knowledge

paper mill
  • Neologism
1 5.8

A company that sells fake or copied academic articles to researchers

rag paper
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A sheet people make from old cloth that lasts a long time

Paper used to soak up extra ink when writing or printing

paper chase
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A game where some players run ahead leaving bits of paper while others follow to catch them before the finish

roofing paper
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A heavy paper covered with tar that keeps a roof dry

paper gold
  • Specialized
1 7.8

Financial products that let people invest in gold without holding physical gold

Paper that does not soak up oil and is used to line baking trays and wrap food

blueprint paper
  • Archaic
1 5.8

Paper used to make blueprints that show white lines on a blue background

How Thick

cardboard
133 1.0
cardstock
2 3.4
paper
∞ 1.0
newsprint
11 3.6
tissue
112 1.0

Surface Forms

paper singular
papers plural

Etymology

The word paper comes from the old word papyrus, the name of an Egyptian river plant people turned into flat sheets for writing. So paper came to mean the thin material we use for 'writing', 'printing', or 'wrapping'.