noun
papyrus
puh-PEYE-ruhs
Papyrus (noun) means a tall reed-like plant that grows along the Nile, once used to make an early writing material. Example: “Papyrus once grew thick along the riverbanks of ancient Egypt.”
noun
1
A tall reed-like plant that grows along the Nile, once used to make an early writing material.
"Papyrus once grew thick along the riverbanks of ancient Egypt."
2
A paper-like writing material made from this plant, or an ancient document written on it.
"Archaeologists uncovered a papyrus dating back over 3,000 years."
How to use papyrus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe ancient plant-based writing material used before true paper existed, or the plant it came from.
Common mistake
Papyrus predates paper — it's made by pressing plant strips together, not pulping fibres.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- papyri, papyruses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ once grew thick along the riverbanks of ancient Egypt.
Etymology
From Latin papyrus, from Greek papyros — the ultimate source of the word "paper" itself.
Synonyms
View more →
paper rush
paper plant
Rhymes for papyrus
See all rhymes for papyrus →Frequently asked questions
What does “papyrus” mean?
The word “papyrus” means a tall reed-like plant that grows along the Nile, once used to make an early writing material. In plain terms, the ancient plant-based writing material used before true paper existed, or the plant it came from.
How do you pronounce “papyrus”?
“Papyrus” is pronounced puh-PEYE-ruhs (/pəˈpaɪɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “papyrus” in a sentence?
Here is “papyrus” used in a sentence: “Papyrus once grew thick along the riverbanks of ancient Egypt.”
What part of speech is “papyrus”?
“Papyrus” is a noun.
Where does the word “papyrus” come from?
The word “papyrus” comes from Latin. From Latin papyrus, from Greek papyros — the ultimate source of the word "paper" itself.
How many meanings does “papyrus” have?
“Papyrus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall reed-like plant that grows along the Nile, once used to make an early writing material.
