Definition

1. Noun:

   • A material made from cellulose pulp: A thin, flat material produced from wood pulp, rags, or grasses, used for writing, printing, drawing, wrapping, or covering surfaces.
   • A newspaper: A daily or weekly publication consisting of folded sheets of paper containing news, articles, and advertisements.
   • A scholarly article or essay: A formal written composition, especially one reporting on research or written as an academic assignment.
   • Official documents: Documents that establish identity, status, or ownership; paperwork.
   • A business firm that publishes newspapers: A publishing company or organization.

2. Verb:

   • To cover with paper: To apply paper to a surface, such as wallpapering a wall or lining a box.
   • To wrap in paper: To enclose something using paper.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Material):
  • Please write your name on a piece of paper.
  • The artist prefers thick paper for her watercolor paintings.
• Noun (Newspaper):
  • He reads the paper every morning with his coffee.
  • That story was on the front page of the paper.
• Noun (Essay/Article):
  • She presented her research paper at the conference.
  • The students must write a ten-page paper on climate change.
• Noun (Documents):
  • Immigration officials asked to see his papers.
  • We need to sort through all the paperwork on the desk.
• Verb:
  • They decided to paper the bedroom with a floral pattern.
  • She papered the gift box carefully.

Advanced Usage

• "On paper": In theory, based on written plans or documents, rather than in reality.
  • The strategy looks good on paper, but we need to test it in practice.
• "Paper over": To try to hide a problem or disagreement without truly resolving it.
  • The treaty only papered over the deep conflicts between the two nations.
• "Paper trail": A series of documents that provide evidence of a sequence of events or transactions.
  • Auditors followed the paper trail to uncover the fraud.

Variants and Related Words

• Papery (adj): Having a thin, dry texture like paper.
  • The old leaves were brown and papery.
• Paperwork (n): Routine work involving documents, forms, and records.
  • Finishing the paperwork took hours.
• Newspaper (n): A publication containing news, printed on paper. (This is a compound word listed here as it contains the target word).
• Wallpaper (n/verb): Decorative paper for covering walls. (This is a compound word listed here as it contains the target word).

Synonyms

• Material: Sheet, leaf.
• Newspaper: Journal, gazette, daily.
• Document: Deed, certificate, form.
• Essay: Article, report, composition, thesis.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Paper over: To conceal flaws or problems superficially.
  • The company tried to paper over the financial scandal.
• Paper in: To enclose or seal with paper.
  • The old windows were papered in to keep out the draft.

Related Idioms

• Put pen to paper: To begin writing.
  • After months of planning, she finally put pen to paper.
• Not worth the paper it's printed/written on: Having no value or validity, especially of a contract or promise.
  • Without their signature, this agreement is not worth the paper it's written on.

Noun

1. the physical object that is the product of a newspaper publisher
   • when it began to rain he covered his head with a newspaper
2. a business firm that publishes newspapers
   • Murdoch owns many newspapers
3. a scholarly article describing the results of observations or stating hypotheses
   • he has written many scientific papers
4. a medium for written communication
   • the notion of an office running without paper is absurd
5. a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
   • he read his newspaper at breakfast
6. an essay (especially one written as an assignment)
   • he got an A on his composition
7. a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

Verb

1. cover with wallpaper
2. cover with paper
   • paper the box