paragraph
n. · v.-
1 section of text (n.) A1 Beginner General-servicea group of sentences that starts on a new line and usually talks about one main idea.
a distinct section of a written text, typically beginning on a new line and containing a single theme or point.
ExampleYour essay is good, but you should start a new paragraph for each new idea.
ExampleThe author uses a single-sentence paragraph to create a dramatic pause before revealing the protagonist's true motivations.
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2 short news item (n.) C1 Advanced Formala very short news story or announcement in a newspaper.
a brief article, notice, or announcement, typically appearing as a short item in a periodical.
ExampleThere was a small paragraph in the local paper about the bake sale.
ExampleThe editor inserted a brief paragraph on the third page to acknowledge the correction of the previous week's error.
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3 memory unit (n.) C2 Proficiency Technical Computinga small unit of computer memory equal to 16 bytes.
a unit of memory equal to 16 bytes, specifically within x86 real-mode memory segmentation.
ExampleIn older computer systems, memory was often managed in paragraphs.
ExampleThe programmer had to ensure that the segment register was aligned with a 16-byte paragraph boundary to avoid memory access errors.
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4 to organize into sections (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Academicto divide a long piece of writing into paragraphs.
to divide or arrange text into distinct paragraphs. Transitive — takes a direct object.
ExampleYou need to paragraph your work better so it is easier to read.
ExampleThe editor spent the afternoon paragraphing the dense manuscript to improve its overall flow and readability for a general audience.
From Middle English paragraf, from Middle French paragraphe from Latin paragraphus (“sign for start of a new section of discourse”), from Ancient Greek παράγραφος (parágraphos), from παρά (pará, “beside”) and γράφω (gráphō, “to write”). Doublet of paragraphos.