■ noun
1》 material manufactured in thin sheets from the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances, used for writing or printing on or as wrapping material.
↘( ~s ) sheets of ~ covered with writing or printing; documents.
↘[as modifier ] officially documented but having no real existence or use: a ~ profit.
2》 a news~.
3》 a government report or policy document.
4》 an essay or dissertation read at a seminar or published in a journal.
5》 Brit. a set of examination questions to be answered at one session.
↘the written answers to such questions.
6》 theatrical slang free passes of admission to a theatre or other entertainment.
■ verb
1》 cover with wall~.
↘( ~ something over ) disguise an awkward problem instead of resolving it.
2》 theatrical slang fill (a theatre) by giving out free tickets.
Phrases
on ~
1》 in writing.
2》 in theory rather than in reality.
Derivatives
~er noun
~less adjective
~y adjective
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. papir , from L. papyrus (see papyrus ).