blueprint paper

1 5.8

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

noun
/ˈbluːprɪnt ˈpeɪpər/

Archaic

: papel de calco

He purchased several rolls of blueprint paper for his advanced drafting class.

Examples

The architect unrolled a sheet of blueprint paper to reveal the building plans.
I need some blueprint paper for my project.
Traditional blueprint paper has largely been replaced by digital methods in modern engineering.
The architect uses blueprint paper to create designs.
The architect spread out the blueprint paper on the table to show her detailed designs for the new building.
Using blueprint paper, the engineers created precise plans for the construction project.
She carefully drew the floor plan on blueprint paper, ensuring that every detail was accurate.

Synonyms

photographic paper

vsblueprint paper

Specialized

1 3.2

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

is made for reproducing technical drawings as white lines on blue background

Surface Forms

blueprint paper singular

blueprint papers plural

Morphology

blueprint + paper

The noun phrase combines two familiar nouns where 'blueprint' denotes a reproduction of technical drawings and 'paper' denotes sheet material; a B1 learner who knows both can infer it is the paper used to make or print blueprints. This is a straightforward compositional noun–noun compound following common English patterns, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Blueprint paper comes from an old copying method where treated sheets turned deep blue and the lines of a building plan showed up white, so the design seemed to print in blue. That's why 'blueprint paper' means the special paper used to make copies of plans.