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papyrus

   Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
pa·py·rus  (p-prs)
n. pl. pa·py·rus·es or pa·py·ri (-r)
1. A tall, aquatic, Mediterranean sedge (Cyperus papyrus) having numerous drooping rays grouped in umbels. Also called Egyptian paper rush, paper plant.
2.
a. A material on which to write made from the pith or the stems of this sedge, used especially by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
b. A document written on this material.

[Middle English papirus, from Latin paprus, from Greek papros.]

papyrus [pəˈpaɪrəs]
n pl -ri [-raɪ], -ruses
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a tall aquatic cyperaceous plant, Cyperus papyrus, of S Europe and N and central Africa with small green-stalked flowers arranged like umbrella spokes around the stem top
2. (Communication Arts / Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) a kind of paper made from the stem pith of this plant, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans
3. (Communication Arts / Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) an ancient document written on this paper
[via Latin from Greek papūros reed used in making paper]

papyrus
  • volume - Originally the name of a scroll or roll of papyrus, from Latin volvere, "to roll up."
  • bible - Derived from biblios, the name for the papyrus produced in the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos.
  • schedule - Goes back to Greek skhede, for "leaf of papyrus"; it started out meaning a ticket or a brief note.
  • tome - Comes from Greek tomos, "roll of papyrus," and was originally a word for one volume of a larger work.
  • ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
    Noun1.papyrus - paper made from the papyrus plant by cutting it in strips and pressing it flatpapyrus - paper made from the papyrus plant by cutting it in strips and pressing it flat; used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks and Romans
    paper - a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
    2.papyrus - tall sedge of the Nile valley yielding fiber that served many purposes in historic timespapyrus - tall sedge of the Nile valley yielding fiber that served many purposes in historic times
    sedge - grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers
    Cyperus, genus Cyperus - type genus of Cyperaceae; grasslike rhizomatous herbs; cosmopolitan except very cold regions
    3.papyrus - a document written on papyrus
    document, papers, written document - writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
    Translations
    papyrus [pəˈpaɪərəs] N (papyruses or papyri (pl)) [pəˈpaɪəraɪ]papiro m
    papyrus
    n pl <papyri> (= plant)Papyrusstaude f, → Papyrus m; (= paper)Papyrus m; (= scroll)Papyrusrolle f, → Papyrus m


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The material was at first supposed to be the wood of the sycamore (platanus), but, upon cutting into it, we found it to be pasteboard, or, more properly, papier mache, composed of papyrus.
From year to year these marshes, covered with reeds and papyrus fifteen feet high, become the lake itself.
marks they find upon the papyrus or parchment, to the unspeakable
 
 
 
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