parchment
/'pɑ:tʃmənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A material made from the skin of a sheep, goat, or other animal, prepared as a surface for writing or printing. This is the historical meaning, referring to a durable, thin material used for manuscripts, documents, and book pages before the widespread use of paper.
- A high-quality, durable paper that resembles traditional animal skin parchment. This modern meaning refers to a type of paper, often used for diplomas, certificates, or important documents, which imitates the look and feel of the original material.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Historical Material):
- The ancient contract was written on parchment.
- Medieval monks often copied texts onto parchment.
- Noun (Modern Paper):
- The university diploma was printed on heavy parchment.
- She bought decorative parchment for her calligraphy project.
Advanced Usage
- "Parchment paper": In modern contexts, especially in cooking, "parchment paper" (often a compound term) refers to a heat-resistant, non-stick paper used for baking.
- Line the baking tray with parchment paper before putting the cookies in the oven.
- Used metaphorically to suggest antiquity, formality, or importance.
- The old law, though just words on parchment, held great power.
Variants and Related Words
- Parchmenty (adj., informal): Having the qualities of parchment (e.g., dry, thin, crinkly).
- After years in the sun, his skin had a parchmenty texture.
Synonyms
- Vellum: A finer quality parchment made from calfskin, lambskin, or kidskin.
- Manuscript: A document written by hand, which could be on parchment.
- Scroll: A roll of parchment or paper.
Related Phrases
- Parchment deed: A legal document written on parchment.
- The property title was an original parchment deed from the 18th century.
Noun
- skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on
- a superior paper resembling sheepskin