A. n.

I. Senses relating to the material.

1. a. Material in the form of thin, flexible sheets used for writing, printing, or drawing on, or for wrapping, covering, etc., usually made from wood pulp which is dried, pressed, and (generally) bleached.

b. to put (also set) pen to paper : to begin writing; to write. to commit to paper

c. on paper: (a) in writing, in print (also upon paper, †in paper (obs.))

2. a. Material resembling paper (sense A. 1a) in function, consistency, or texture, but differently made.

b. Material made from paper or paper pulp and used in construction, artwork, or building, as papiermâché, boards or slabs for roofing, etc. Now rare.

3. a. A piece of paper serving as a wrapper or receptacle, often including the contents; a paper container of some commodity; spec. a dose or measure of a drug, esp. a narcotic, contained in a paper wrapper.

b. A sheet or leaf of paper, esp. for writing on. Now chiefly in technical use.

c. Entomol. A triangular envelope made of folded paper for storing an insect specimen, esp. a butterfly.

4. In pl. Curl-papers (see curl-paper n.). Now rare.

5. Wallpaper; a sheet of wallpaper.

6. Short for cigarette paper

II. Paper bearing writing, illustrations, etc.

7. a. A piece, sheet, or leaf of paper bearing writing or printing; esp. a legal or official document written or printed on paper. In pl.: written notes, memoranda, letters, official documents, etc.

b. Paper bearing writing; written documents collectively.

8. A notice fastened on the back of a criminal undergoing punishment, specifying his or her offence. Obs.

9. In pl. State papers. Freq. in the titles of officers or departments concerned with the conservation of state papers, as Office of His (also Her) Majesty's Papers

10. A newspaper or journal. Also in pl., with the: newspapers collectively; the press.

11. a. An essay, dissertation, or article (on a particular topic). Now: esp. an article or dissertation read at a conference, symposium, etc., or submitted to a journal.

b. A document presented to Parliament (as a report, an outline of proposed legislation, a statement of policy, etc.).

12. In pl. a. The documents carried by a ship indicating ownership, nationality, destination, etc. (more fully ship's papers); (also) documents attesting the identity or credentials of a person, esp. as required for travel or employment.

b. The certificates which accompany a military officer's application for permission to resign. Chiefly in to send in one's papers : to resign.

c. Documents establishing the pedigree of an animal, esp. a dog or horse.

13. a. Negotiable documents, bills of exchange, promissory notes, etc., collectively; banknotes as opposed to coins.

 b. slang (chiefly U.S.). A forged or worthless cheque; a forged document.

14. Theatre slang. Free tickets or passes to a theatrical performance; the people admitted by free tickets or passes. As a count noun: such a ticket or pass.

15. A printed set of questions to be answered at one sitting in an examination; a candidate’s collection of written answers to such questions.

16. U.S. slang. a. As a count noun: a playing card.

17. U.S. colloq. Posters or similar publicity material collectively. Now rare.

III. Other uses.

18. herb paper, water paper (William Turner's names for the papyrus plant).