Para- - Dictionary Of English

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para- [links] ⓘ One or more forum threads is an exact match of your searched term in Spanish | in French | in Italian | English synonyms | English Usage | Conjugator | in context | images WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026para-1 ,prefix.
  1. para- comes from Greek, where it has the meaning "at or to one side of, beside, side by side.'' This meaning is found in such words as: parabola; paragraph.
  2. para- is also used to mean "beyond, past, by'': paradox.
  3. para- also has the meaning "abnormal, defective'': paranoia.
  4. para- is also attached to names of jobs or occupations to mean "ancillary, subsidiary, assisting.'' This meaning is found in such words as: paralegal; paraprofessional.
Also,[esp. before a vowel,] par-. para-3 ,prefix.
  1. para- is taken from parachute, and is used to form compounds that refer to persons or things that use parachutes or that are landed by parachute:paratrooper.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: para-, (before a vowel) par- prefix
  1. beside; near: parameter, parathyroid
  2. beyond: parapsychology
  3. resembling: paramnesia
  4. defective; abnormal: paraesthesia
  5. subsidiary to: paraphysis
  6. (usually in italics) denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents attached to atoms that are directly opposite across the ring (the 1,4- positions)Compare ortho-, meta-
  7. denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compound: paraldehyde, paracasein
  8. denoting the form of a diatomic substance in which the spins of the two constituent atoms are antiparallel: parahydrogenCompare ortho-
Etymology: from Greek para (prep) alongside, beyondpara- combining form
  1. indicating an object that acts as a protection against something: parachute, parasol
Etymology: via French from Italian para-, from parare to defend, shield against, ultimately from Latin parāre to prepare WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026pa•ra1 (pä rä′, pär′ä),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ras, -ra.
  1. Currencya former copper coin of Turkey, the 40th part of a piaster.
  • Persian pāra literally, piece
  • Turkish
  • 1680–90
pa•ra2 (pä rä′, pär′ä),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ras, -ra.
  1. Currencyan aluminum-bronze coin and monetary unit of Yugoslavia, the 100th part of a dinar.
  • Turkish; see para1
  • Serbo-Croatian pàra
  • 1905–10
par•a3 (par′ə),USA pronunciation adj. [Chem.]
  1. Chemistrypertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 4) in the benzene ring that are separated by two carbon atoms. Cf. ortho, meta 2.
n.
  1. Chemistrypara-dichlorobenzene.
  • independent use of para-1 1875–80
par•a4 (par′ə),USA pronunciation n. [Informal.]
  1. Informal Termsa paraprofessional.
  2. Informal Termsa paratrooper.
  • by shortening of words compounded with para-1, para-3 1955–60
par•a5 (par′ə),USA pronunciation n., pl. par•as, par•ae (par′ē).USA pronunciation Obstetrics.
  1. MedicineAlso called parity. a woman's status regarding the bearing of viable offspring: usually followed by a Roman numeral designating the number of times the woman has given birth.
  2. Medicinethe woman herself. Cf. gravida.
  • extracted from primapara, multipara, etc. 1880–85
Pa•rá (pä rä′),USA pronunciation n.
  1. Place Namesan estuary in N Brazil: an arm of the Amazon. 200 mi. (320 km) long; 40 mi. (65 km) wide.
  2. Place NamesBelém.
  3. See Pará rubber.
para-1 ,
  1. a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, most often attached to verbs and verbal derivatives, with the meanings "at or to one side of, beside, side by side'' (parabola; paragraph; parallel; paralysis), "beyond, past, by'' (paradox; paragogue); by extension from these senses, this prefix came to designate objects or activities auxiliary to or derivative of that denoted by the base word (parody; paronomasia), and hence abnormal or defective (paranoia), a sense now common in modern scientific coinages (parageusia; paralexia). As an English prefix, para- 1 may have any of these senses; it is also productive in the naming of occupational roles considered ancillary or subsidiary to roles requiring more training, or of a higher status, on such models as paramedical and paraprofessional: paralegal; paralibrarian; parapolice.
  2. Chemistrya combining form designating the para (1, 4) position in the benzene ring. Abbr.: p-. Cf. meta- (def. 2c), ortho- (def. 2b). See diag. under ortho-.
Also,[esp. before a vowel,] par-.
  • Greek para-, combining form representing pará (preposition) beside, alongside of, by, beyond
para-2 ,
  1. a combining form meaning "guard against,'' occurring in loanwords from French, or, via French, from Italian:parachute; parasol.
  • Latin parāre to prepare
  • Italian para, 3d singular present of parare to prepare against, ward off
  • French
para-3 ,
  1. a combining form extracted from parachute, forming compounds denoting persons or things utilizing parachutes or landed by parachute:paradrop; paraglider;paratrooper.
Para.,
  1. Place NamesParaguay.
'para-' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations): Belém - benzocaine - dioxin - fore - meta- - ortho- - p- - palfrey - par- - para - para-aminobenzoic acid - parabiosis - parable - paracetamol - parachronism - parachute - Paraclete - paradigm - paradox - paragon - paragraph - paragraphia - paralipsis - parallax - parallel - paralogism - paralysis - paramecium - parameter - paranoia - parapet - paraphernalia - paraplegia - parapraxis - paraselene - parasite - parasol - parataxis - parathion - paravane - parazoan - paregoric - parenchyma - parenteral - parenthesis - parergon - paresis - parhelion - aminobenzoic acid - aminophenol

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