# parcel

/ˈpɑɹsəɫ/ (US) · /pˈɑːsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parcel
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a package

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

an object or collection of objects wrapped in paper so it can be sent by post.

For teachers: a package wrapped in paper or other materials, typically for shipment or postal delivery.

- The postman left a large parcel on the doorstep while we were out.
- The courier service requires all parcels to be securely taped and clearly labelled with the recipient's postcode before collection.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'package' is much more common than 'parcel' for items sent by mail.

### 2. a piece of land

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a specific area of land that is part of a larger area.

For teachers: a defined area of land, often one intended for sale or development as a single unit.

- They bought a small parcel of land near the river to build a cottage.
- The developer acquired several adjacent parcels of land to consolidate the site for the new shopping complex.

### 3. a small food item

noun · CEFR B2

a small amount of food wrapped in pastry or a leaf.

For teachers: a small portion of food enclosed in a wrapper, such as pastry, dough, or a vegetable leaf.

- The chef served delicate spinach and feta parcels as an appetizer.
- For the main course, the salmon was baked in parchment parcels to preserve its moisture and infuse it with herbs.

### 5. part of a whole

noun · CEFR B2

a part or piece of something larger.

For teachers: a portion or fragment of a whole; most commonly encountered in the fixed idiom 'part and parcel'.

- Long hours are part and parcel of being a junior doctor.
- Occasional technical failures are part and parcel of operating such a complex satellite network.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the phrase 'part and parcel of'.

## Examples

- The mail carrier delivered a large parcel to my door.
- I need to go to the post office to send this parcel to my brother in Canada.
- The developer purchased a large parcel of land on the outskirts of the city, intending to transform the vacant lot into a modern residential complex.

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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.