paper

1 noun

1 FOR WRITING ON (U) material in the form of thin sheets that is used for writing on, wrapping things etc: a piece of paper | wrapped in brown paper | writing/wrapping/drawing paper: sheets of writing paper

2 NEWSPAPER (C) a newspaper: Have you seen today's paper? | Why don't you put an ad in the local paper? | daily/evening/Sunday paper: The story was all over the Sunday papers.

3 DOCUMENTS/LETTERS papers (plural)

a) pieces of paper with writing on them that you use in your work, at meetings etc: I left some important papers in my briefcase.

b) documents and letters concerning someone's private or public life: I found this photograph among his private papers.

c) official documents such as your passport, identity card etc: After checking our papers, the border guards let us through.

—see also: White Paper, green paper, order paper

4 on paper

a) if you put ideas or information on paper, you write them down: As soon as you have an idea, get it down on paper so you don't forget it.

b) if something seems true on paper, it seems to be true as an idea, but may not be true in a real situation: It's a nice idea on paper, but you'll never get it to work.

5 EXAMINATION

a) (C) BrE a set of printed questions used as an examination in a particular subject: an exam paper | history/French etc paper: The history paper was really easy.

b) the answers that have been written to these questions: I have a stack of papers to mark.

6 ABOUT A SUBJECT (C)

a) a piece of writing or a talk by someone who has made a study of a particular subject: a scientific paper | give a paper on (=give a talk about): Professor Usborne gave a paper on recent developments in the field of cognitive psychology. | working paper (=an official document that makes suggestions about a subject or problem)

b) especially AmE a piece of writing that is done as part of a course at school or university

(+ on): I have a paper to write on the Civil War.

7 FOR WALLS (C, U) paper for covering and decorating the walls of a room; wallpaper: We've chosen a floral paper for Pauline's bedroom.

8 not worth the paper it is written on/printed on if something such as a contract is not worth the paper it is written on, it has no value because whatever is promised in it will not happen

—see also: put/set pen to paper pen 1 (3), toilet paper, waste paper 2 adjective (only before noun)

1 made of paper: a paper cup

2 paper qualifications an expression meaning documents showing that you have passed certain examinations used specially when you think that someone's experience and knowledge of a subject are more important

3 existing only as an idea but not having any real value: paper profits | paper promises

4 paper tiger an enemy or opponent who seems powerful but actually is not

3 verb (T)

1 to decorate the walls of a room by covering them with special paper

2 paper over the cracks/a problem etc to try to hide disagreements or difficulties