papery

adjective

pa·​pery ˈpā-p(ə-)rē How to pronounce papery (audio)
: resembling paper in thinness or consistency
papery leaves
papery silk
paperiness noun

Examples of papery in a Sentence

a berry with papery skin the papery wing of a moth
Recent Examples on the Web Or is it made with some papery thin blend that's going to leave you freezing your butt off? Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 16 Nov. 2022 After all, the snipper and gluer of papery things arranges those things in a frame, just like a director — pure mise-en-scène! Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Aug. 2022 One company, SOFi Paper Products, designed straws that were strong enough to avoid decomposing in liquid and are covered with a food-grade coating to combat the papery taste of other straws. Elliot Lewis, NBC News, 30 July 2022 Also, these mighty machines can somehow squeeze a pale green elixir from even the most papery kale leaves. Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2022 The wasps themselves don't radiate light, nor did the papery upper parts of the nest—the glow comes from silk fibers that cap the hexagonal cells. Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Aug. 2021 True bulbs are underground storage structures that have fleshy layers and a papery outer layer like an onion. Marty Ross, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2021 Remove the papery outer layers of the garlic bulb and slice off the top 1/2 inch to expose the tops of the individual cloves. Paul Stephen, ExpressNews.com, 28 Oct. 2020 Unlike many other brands, which rely on ultra-thin and somewhat papery fabrics to maintain a fast dry, OV managed to create a lightweight, breathable fabric that’s also incredibly soft. Braelyn Wood, Health.com, 14 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'papery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of papery was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near papery

Cite this Entry

“Papery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papery. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

papery

adjective
pa·​pery ˈpā-p(ə-)rē How to pronounce papery (audio)
: resembling paper in thinness or firmness
papery leaves
paperiness noun

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