paragraph

[par-uh-graf, -grahf] /ˈpær əˌgræf, -ˌgrɑf/
noun
1.
a distinct portion of written or printed matter dealing with a particular idea, usually beginning with an indentation on a new line.
2.
a paragraph mark.
3.
a note, item, or brief article, as in a newspaper.
verb (used with object)
4.
to divide into paragraphs.
5.
to write or publish paragraphs about, as in a newspaper.
6.
to express in a paragraph.
Origin
1515-25; earlier paragraphe < Greek paragraphḗ marked passage; see para-1, graph
Related forms
paragraphism, noun
paragraphistical
[par-uh-gruh-fis-ti-kuh l] /ˌpær ə grəˈfɪs tɪ kəl/ (Show IPA), adjective
subparagraph, noun
unparagraphed, adjective
well-paragraphed, adjective
Examples from the web for paragraph
  • It will immediately set your statement apart from those-and they are legion-that begin with a standard expository paragraph.
  • Any honest paragraph of straightforward explanation will usually require a good three pages of caveats and disclaimers.
  • Ask them to read this paragraph and list the hammerhead's main food sources.
  • Not to mention the spurious comma in the second sentence of the second paragraph.
  • There are a number of words in this paragraph count the words and you'll have a good start.
  • The first paragraph of this post seems too concessionary to me.
  • Ask students to write a paragraph describing what their drawings show.
  • Both sentences in the last paragraph are frustratingly vague.
  • When the spoiler paragraph was presented as part of the story, there was no additional benefit to reader enjoyment.
  • It has a photo of the artist, two more images of artwork, and a paragraph about them.
British Dictionary definitions for paragraph

paragraph

/ˈpærəˌɡrɑːf; -ˌɡræf/
noun
1.
(in a piece of writing) one of a series of subsections each usually devoted to one idea and each usually marked by the beginning of a new line, indentation, increased interlinear space, etc
2.
(printing) the character ¶, used as a reference mark or to indicate the beginning of a new paragraph
3.
a short article in a newspaper
verb (transitive)
4.
to form into paragraphs
5.
to express or report in a paragraph
Derived Forms
paragraphic (ˌpærəˈɡræfɪk), paragraphical, adjective
paragraphically, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from Medieval Latin paragraphus, from Greek paragraphos line drawing attention to part of a text, from paragraphein to write beside, from para-1 + graphein to write
Word Origin and History for paragraph
n.

late 15c., from Middle French paragraphe "division of text" (13c., Old French paragrafe), from Medieval Latin paragraphus "sign for start of a new section of discourse" (the sign looked something like a stylized letter -P-), from Greek paragraphos "short stroke in the margin marking a break in sense," also "a passage so marked," literally "anything written beside," from paragraphein "write by the side," from para- "beside" (see para- (1)) + graphein "to write" (see -graphy).

paragraph in Culture

paragraph definition


A basic unit of prose. It is usually composed of several sentences that together develop one central idea. The main sentence in a paragraph is called the topic sentence.