parcel
parcel Lexical Profile
parcel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An object or collection of objects wrapped in paper, usually so that it can be sent by post or carried easily; a package.
"The courier delivered a large parcel wrapped in brown paper and secured with string."
A distinct, defined piece of land.
"They bought a small parcel of land near the lake with plans to build a summer cabin."
A quantity or amount of something, especially as dealt with in one commercial transaction.
"The investor purchased a sizable parcel of shares in the emerging tech company."
• verb
To divide into portions and distribute (usually followed by 'out').
"The committee decided to parcel out the remaining funds to various local charities."
To wrap something in order to make it into a package.
"She carefully parceled the gifts and tied them with decorative ribbons before shipping them to her family."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a verb, 'parcel' is most commonly used in the phrasal construction 'parcel out', meaning to divide and distribute something into smaller portions.
• Rhymes for parcel
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English, via Old French 'parcele', which traces back to Latin 'particula' (a small part), a diminutive of 'pars' (part). The meaning shifted to denote a wrapped package in the 17th century.