paper

A thin material made mostly from wood, used for writing, printing, or wrapping.

• I need some paper and a pen.
• She folded the paper in half.
• We printed the invitations on thick paper.

How to use it: a piece of paper (Write your name on a piece of paper.)

Common phrases: sheet of paper, piece of paper, plain paper

A publication containing news, stories, and advertisements.

• Dad reads the paper every morning.
• The local paper reported the accident.
• Have you seen today’s paper?

How to use it: in the paper (I saw your photo in the paper.)

Similar words: newspaper

Common phrases: daily paper, local paper, morning paper

A thin material used to cover gifts, parcels, or other objects.

• She wrapped the gift in paper.
• We bought shiny paper for the presents.
• The parcel arrived covered in brown paper.

Similar words: wrapping paper

Common phrases: wrapping paper, brown paper, gift paper

A piece of writing that explains the results of academic or scientific research.

• The paper explains their research findings.
• He presented his paper at a conference.
• Several papers support this new theory.

How to use it: a paper on something (She published a paper on climate change.)

Similar words: article, study

Common phrases: research paper, scientific paper, publish a paper

A piece of writing about a topic, often for school or to explain government plans.

• My history paper is due tomorrow.
• The government released a paper on housing.
• She wrote three papers for the course.

How to use it: a paper on something (I wrote a paper on local history.)

Similar words: report, essay

Common phrases: term paper, white paper, policy paper

A material stuck onto walls to cover and decorate them.

• We chose blue paper for the bedroom.
• The paper is peeling near the window.
• He stripped the old paper from the walls.

Similar words: wallpaper

Common phrases: floral paper, wall paper, patterned paper

Made from the thin material used for writing and printing.

• Put the bread in a paper bag.
• We used paper plates at the picnic.
• She made a little paper boat.

Common phrases: paper bag, paper cup, paper towel

Apparently good or powerful in theory, but weak or ineffective in real life.

• The enemy proved to be a paper tiger.
• He was a paper general with no battle experience.
• Their paper victory changed nothing for ordinary people.

Similar words: theoretical

Opposites: real

Common phrases: paper tiger, paper general, paper victory