parcel

Something wrapped or packed in a box, often to be sent by post.

• Your parcel arrived this morning.
• She sent a parcel to her brother.
• The driver left two parcels outside our door.

Similar words: package

Common phrases: send a parcel, parcel delivery, large parcel

A piece of land treated as one unit when bought, sold, or owned.

• This parcel belongs to my aunt.
• The farmer sold two parcels of land.
• Each parcel has its own boundary on the map.

How to use it: a parcel of land (They bought a parcel of land beside the river.)

Similar words: plot, lot

Common phrases: parcel of land, land parcel

A separate part of something larger, especially a piece of land.

• They inherited a parcel of land.
• The estate was divided into smaller parcels.
• Each parcel of goods was stored separately.

How to use it: a parcel of something (They received a small parcel of land.)

Similar words: portion, part

Common phrases: parcel of land, small parcel

To divide something into parts and give those parts to different people.

• They parcelled out the remaining food.
• The manager parcels out tasks each morning.
• We had to parcel the money out among six families.

How to use it: parcel something out to someone (They parcelled the food out to the families.); parcel something out among people (She parcelled the work out among her assistants.)

Similar words: distribute, share out, divide up

Common phrases: parcel something out, parcel out something

To divide property into smaller pieces so they can be sold separately.

• They plan to parcel off the land.
• The estate was parcelled off and sold.
• Developers parcel large properties off into smaller building plots.

How to use it: parcel something off into something (They parcelled the estate off into smaller plots.)

Similar words: subdivide, divide up

Common phrases: parcel something off, parcel off land

To wrap something in paper or put it in a package.

• I need to parcel up these gifts.
• He parcelled the books up in brown paper.
• Can you parcel this up for me?

How to use it: parcel something up (She parcelled the books up for posting.)

Similar words: wrap up, package

Opposites: unwrap, unpack

Common phrases: parcel something up, parcel up something

To wrap strips of cloth around a rope to protect it.

• The sailors parcel the rope with cloth.
• He parcelled the damaged section before covering it with cord.
• We must parcel these ropes to protect them from water.

Similar words: wrap

Common phrases: parcel a rope, parcel the rigging