PARAGRAPH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does paragraph mean? 

• PARAGRAPH (noun)
  The noun PARAGRAPH has 1 sense:

1. one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line

  Familiarity information: PARAGRAPH used as a noun is very rare.

• PARAGRAPH (verb)
  The verb PARAGRAPH has 3 senses:

1. divide into paragraphs, as of text

2. write about in a paragraph

3. write paragraphs; work as a paragrapher

  Familiarity information: PARAGRAPH used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PARAGRAPH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

One of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("paragraph" is a kind of...):

piece of writing; writing; written material (the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect))

Holonyms ("paragraph" is a part of...):

text; textual matter (the words of something written)

Derivation:

paragraph (write paragraphs; work as a paragrapher)

paragraph (write about in a paragraph)

paragraph (divide into paragraphs, as of text)

paragrapher (a writer of paragraphs (as for publication on the editorial page of a newspaper))

• PARAGRAPH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they paragraph    ... he / she / it paragraphs   
Past simple: paragraphed   
Past participle: paragraphed   
-ing form: paragraphing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Divide into paragraphs, as of text

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

This story is well paragraphed

Hypernyms (to "paragraph" is one way to...):

carve up; dissever; divide; separate; split; split up (separate into parts or portions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

paragraph (one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Write about in a paragraph

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

All her friends were paragraphed in last Monday's paper

Hypernyms (to "paragraph" is one way to...):

compose; indite; pen; write (produce a literary work)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

paragraph (one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line)

paragrapher (a writer of paragraphs (as for publication on the editorial page of a newspaper))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Write paragraphs; work as a paragrapher

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "paragraph" is one way to...):

compose; indite; pen; write (produce a literary work)

Domain category:

authorship; composition; penning; writing (the act of creating written works)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

paragraph (one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line)

paragrapher (a writer of paragraphs (as for publication on the editorial page of a newspaper))

 Context examples 

This was the paragraph which I had been engaged in reading when he rose from his chair: MURDER IN WESTMINSTER

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society papers of the same week.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He did not finish the first paragraph.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"Prime, isn't it?" asked the boy, as her eye went down the last paragraph of her portion.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She could not doubt, she dared not indulge a hope, of the paragraph being false.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

This paragraph was of some importance to the prospects and conduct of Edward.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I picked up the paper which he had thrown back to me and read the paragraph indicated.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

EXAMPLE(S): paragraph description, digital photo, audio track

(Animal Description, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

I looked over the paper, for I really did not know what he meant; but he took it from me and pointed out a paragraph about children being decoyed away at Hampstead.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Four-and-twenty hours later, and I should only have been a gallant Captain Wentworth, in a small paragraph at one corner of the newspapers; and being lost in only a sloop, nobody would have thought about me.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)