# paper

/ˈpeɪpɝ/ (US) · /pˈeɪpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paper
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 1. writing material

noun · CEFR A1

thin material made from wood or cloth used for writing, printing, or drawing.

For teachers: a thin sheet material produced by the compression of cellulose fibres, typically used as a substrate for writing, printing, or packaging.

- He took a clean sheet of paper to start writing his letter.
- The artist experimented with various weights of handmade paper to see how the different textures absorbed the heavy ink.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the material in general; countable when referring to a single sheet.

### 2. newspaper

noun · CEFR A2

a set of large printed sheets containing news, published every day or week.

For teachers: a daily or weekly publication containing news, advertisements, and correspondence.

- I usually read the paper while I have my morning coffee.
- Local papers have struggled to maintain their circulation figures as digital news platforms become the primary source of information for younger demographics.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the' in a generic sense.

### 3. academic essay

noun · CEFR B1 · Academic

a formal piece of writing about a particular subject for school or a scientific journal.

For teachers: a formal written composition, often reporting original research or scholarly analysis, intended for publication or academic assessment.

- She has to finish her history paper by Monday morning.
- The professor published a groundbreaking paper on climate change that challenged several long-held assumptions in the field of meteorology.

### 4. exam questions

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

the set of questions you have to answer in an exam.

For teachers: a set of examination questions to be answered in a single timed session.

- The chemistry paper was much harder than I expected.
- Candidates are instructed not to turn over the exam paper until the invigilator signals the start of the session.

### 5. money

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for money, especially cash.

For teachers: a slang term for currency or financial wealth.

- He's only doing that job because he wants to make some serious paper.
- In certain urban subcultures, the pursuit of paper is a central theme in both music and daily life.

### 6. made of paper

adjective · CEFR A1

made out of paper material.

For teachers: constructed or consisting of paper.

- We used paper plates for the picnic to make cleaning up easier.
- The architect designed a temporary pavilion using recycled paper tubes as the primary structural support.

### 7. only on documents

adjective · CEFR B2

existing only in writing or on a plan, but not in real life.

For teachers: existing in theory or on a document but not in reality or practice.

- The team looks good on paper, but they haven't won a game yet.
- While the merger resulted in a significant paper profit, the company's actual cash flow remained dangerously low.

### 8. to apply wallpaper

verb · CEFR B1

to put decorative paper on the walls of a room.

For teachers: to cover a surface, typically an interior wall, with decorative paper.

- We decided to paper the bedroom instead of painting it.
- The renovators spent the weekend learning how to paper the hallway without leaving visible seams between the patterned sheets.

Usage: Often used as 'paper over' in a figurative sense to mean hiding a problem.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.