pa·py·rus
(pə-pī′rəs)n. pl. pa·py·rus·es or pa·py·ri (-rī′)
1. An aquatic sedge (Cyperus papyrus) native to Africa, having a tall stem and an umbellate inflorescence with numerous arching rays.
2.
a. A material made from the pith or the stems of this sedge, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans especially to write or paint on.
b. A document written on this material.
[Middle English papirus, from Latin papȳrus, from Greek papūros.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
papyrus
(pəˈpaɪrəs)n, pl -ri (-raɪ) or -ruses
1. (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. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) a kind of paper made from the stem pith of this plant, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans
3. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) an ancient document written on this paper
[C14: via Latin from Greek papūros reed used in making paper]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pa•py•rus
(pəˈpaɪ rəs)n., pl. -py•ri (-ˈpaɪ raɪ, -ri)
-py•rus•es.
1. a tall, aquatic plant, Cyperus papyrus, of the sedge family, native to the Nile valley.
2. a material on which to write, prepared from thin strips of the pith of this plant laid and pressed together, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
3. a document written on this material.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin papȳrus < Greek pápȳros]
pa•py′ral, (-rɪn) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
papyrus
A reedlike plant cultivated in Egypt and used by the ancient Egyptians to make paper.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  papyrus - paper made from the papyrus plant by cutting it in strips and pressing it flat; used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks and Romanspaper - 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 timessedge - 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) |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Echter PapyrusPapyrusPapyrusstaude
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
papyrus
n pl <papyri> (= plant) → Papyrusstaude f, → Papyrus m; (= paper) → Papyrus m; (= scroll) → Papyrusrolle f, → Papyrus m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007