Word forms: plural, plural, 3rd person singular presenttense parcels, present participle parcelling, past tense, past participle parcelledregional note: in AM, use parceling, parceled
1. countable noun
A parcel is something wrapped in paper, usually so that it can be sent to someone by post.
[mainly British]
...parcels of food and clothing. [+ of]
He had a large brown paper parcel under his left arm.
regional note: in AM, usually use package
Synonyms: package, case, box, pack More Synonyms of parcel
2. countable noun
A parcel of land is a piece of land.
These small parcels of land were purchased for the most part by local people. [+ of]
Synonyms: plot, area, property, section More Synonyms of parcel
3. countable noun [NOUNof noun]
A parcel of things or people is a quantity of them.
[mainly British]
...acquiring a parcel of financial worries.
4.
See part and parcel
Phrasal verbs:
See parcel out
More Synonyms of parcel
parcel in British English
(ˈpɑːsəl)
noun
1.
something wrapped up; package
2.
a group of people or things having some common characteristic
3.
a quantity of some commodity offered for sale; lot
4.
a distinct portion of land
5.
an essential part of something (esp in the phrase part and parcel)
verbWord forms: -cels, -celling, -celledWord forms: US-cels, -celing or -celed(transitive)
6. (often foll by up)
to make a parcel of; wrap up
7. (often foll by out)
to divide (up) into portions
8. nautical
to bind strips of canvas around (a rope)
adverb
9. an archaic word for partly
Word origin
C14: from Old French parcelle, from Latin particulaparticle
parcel in American English
(ˈpɑrsəl)
noun
1.
a small, wrapped bundle; package
2.
a quantity or unit of some commodity put up for sale
3.
a group or collection; pack; bunch
a parcel of fools
4.
a piece, as of land, usually a specific part of a large acreage or estate
5.
a portion or part
now only in part and parcel, an inseparable or essential part
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈparceled or ˈparcelled, ˈparceling or ˈparcelling
6.
to separate into parts and distribute; apportion
with out
7.
to make up in or as a parcel
8. Nautical
to wrap in parceling
adjective, adverb
9. Archaic
part; partly
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈbundle
Word origin
ME < MFr parcelle < LL *particella, for L particula: see particle
More idioms containing
parcel
part and parcel
Examples of 'parcel' in a sentence
parcel
Fold the pastry over the fillet as though wrapping a parcel and press the edges to seal.
The Sun (2016)
The main impact will be on parcels and packages.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She had to take food parcels from nuns to avoid starving, she said.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's part and parcel of the job.
The Sun (2017)
His family spend 60 a week sending him food parcels.
The Sun (2016)
But that's part and parcel of the dynamic baking scene.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It will now try to deliver parcels weighing up to 5lb in 30 minutes.
The Sun (2016)
Excluding the US giant, the volume of parcels it delivered through big accounts was up five per cent.
The Sun (2016)
She said that people in rural areas looked at her team as if they'were from outer space' when they delivered the first food parcels last summer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His friend showed me one parcel of land he had for sale.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Thousands of food parcels and hygiene kits were also lost in the blaze.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The chilling makes the chicken parcels easier to handle.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They are paid by the number of parcels they deliver rather than by the hour.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This recipe makes eight small parcels or four large ones.
The Sun (2015)
Three small parcels were discovered in a cupboard at a city centre language school.
The Sun (2008)
We live in a democracy where political satire is part and parcel of our democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Letters and parcels from admirers are piled on the table.
The Sun (2010)
Who packaged up dodgy loans into elegant parcels and passed them around the world?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Food parcels and medical supplies must be given priority.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Fold up foil to make a loose parcel.
The Sun (2012)
One reason to purchase a large parcel is to minimize objections from neighbors.
Christianity Today (2000)
These controversies are part and parcel of the operatic drama that football has become.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In return they carried letters and fetched parcels.
Jane Brown My Darling Heriott: Henrietta Luxborough, Poetic Gardener and Irrepressible Exile (2006)
We did our bit too with a massive cake and some presents for pass the parcel.
The Sun (2012)
Delicious food parcels delivered on our doorstep by friends and neighbours.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Fold the excess salmon over the top to make a parcel.
The Sun (2011)
Picture the issue you're fretting about as a package or parcel.
The Sun (2010)
This little mucky parcel wrapped up in old clingfilm didn't fit in at all.
Thomas Blaikie Blaikie's Guide to Modern Manners (2005)
It says that up to 95% of parcels are delivered first time.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Small parcels of public sector land and help with preparation and tendering costs will be provided by the Government.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
More than 2,000 employees of the parcels delivery group are expected to lose their jobs tomorrow after the dramatic failure of the company.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Sit both haddock fillets on the foil, season with pepper, then wrap into a parcel.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
parcel
British English: parcel /ˈpɑːsl/ NOUN
A parcel is something wrapped in paper, usually so that it can be sent to someone by post.
He had a large brown paper parcel under his left arm.
American English: package
Arabic: طَرْدٌ علبة
Brazilian Portuguese: pacote
Chinese: 小包
Croatian: pošiljka
Czech: balík poštovní
Danish: pakke
Dutch: pakje
European Spanish: paquete grande
Finnish: paketti
French: colis
German: Paket
Greek: δέμα
Italian: pacco
Japanese: 小包
Korean: 소포
Norwegian: pakke
Polish: paczka
European Portuguese: pacote
Romanian: colet
Russian: посылка
Latin American Spanish: paquete
Swedish: paket
Thai: พัสดุ
Turkish: paket
Ukrainian: пакунок
Vietnamese: gói
British English: parcel NOUN
A parcel is something wrapped in paper, usually so that it can be sent to someone by post.
...parcels of food and clothing.
American English: parcel
Brazilian Portuguese: pacote
Chinese: 包裹
European Spanish: paquete
French: colis
German: Paket
Italian: pacco
Japanese: 小包
Korean: 소포
European Portuguese: pacote
Latin American Spanish: paquete
All related terms of 'parcel'
food parcel
parcels of food prepared and sent , esp by charitable organizations, to people in need
parcel bomb
A parcel bomb is a small bomb which is sent in a parcel through the post and which is designed to explode when the parcel is opened.
parcel-gilt
partly gilded , esp (of an item of silverware ) having the inner surface gilded
parcel net
a large bag made of netting attached inside (the boot or trunk of) a car and used to store loose items, such as groceries , sports equipment, or parcels , etc
parcel out
If you parcel out something, you divide it into several parts or amounts and give them to different people.
parcel post
a postal service involving the shipping of parcels
parcel shelf
a shelf (which is usually removable) inside a car, located behind the back seats , and used to store small items
part and parcel
If you say that something is part and parcel of something else, you are emphasizing that it is involved or included in it.
pass-the-parcel
a children's game in which a parcel with lots of wrappings is passed round while music plays; each time the music stops the person holding the parcel takes a layer of wrapping off
play pass-the-parcel
to try to avoid a responsibility , or blame , by passing it on to someone else
Chinese translation of 'parcel'
parcel
(ˈpɑːsl)
n(c)
(= package) 包裹 (bāoguǒ) (个(個), gè)
美 = package
vt
(also parcel up) 打包 (dǎbāo)
1 (noun)
Definition
something wrapped up
They sent parcels of food and clothing.
Synonyms
package
I tore open the package.
case
There was a ten-foot long stuffed alligator in a glass case.
box
They sat on wooden boxes.
pack
a pack of biscuits
packet
the cost of sending letters and packets abroad
bundle
carton
A large and heavy cardboard carton had been delivered to the house.
2 (noun)
Definition
a distinct portion of land
These small parcels of land were sold to the local people.
Synonyms
plot
a small plot of land for growing vegetables
area
the large number of community groups in the area
property
section
Kolonarai is a lovely residential section of Athens.
patch
the little vegetable patch in her backyard
tract
A vast tract of land is ready for development.
allotment
She was just back from working on her allotment.
piece of land
3 (noun)
Definition
a group of people or things sharing something in common
He described them, quite rightly, as a parcel of rogues.
Synonyms
group
a small group of football supporters
crowd
All the old crowd from my university days were there.
pack
a pack of journalists who wanted to interview him
company
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
lot
We've just sacked one lot of builders.
band
bands of government soldiers
collection
A collection of people of all ages assembled to pay their respects.
crew (informal)
a motley crew of college friends
gang
He was attacked by a gang of strangers.
bunch (informal)
The players were a great bunch.
batch
the current batch of trainee priests
(verb)
Definition
to wrap (something) up into a parcel
We parcelled up our unwanted clothes to take to the charity shop.
Synonyms
wrap
Harry had wrapped some presents for the children.
pack
Orders come packed in straw-filled boxes.
package
The coffee beans are ground and packaged for sale.
tie up
do up
gift-wrap
box up
fasten together
phrasal verb
See parcel something out
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allotment
She was just back from working on her allotment.
Synonyms
plot,
patch,
tract,
kitchen garden
in the sense of area
Definition
a section, part, or region
the large number of community groups in the area
Synonyms
region,
land,
quarter,
division,
sector,
district,
stretch,
territory,
zone,
plot,
province,
patch,
neighbourhood,
sphere,
turf (slang),
realm,
domain,
tract,
locality,
neck of the woods (informal)
in the sense of band
Definition
having legs curved outwards at the knees
bands of government soldiers
Synonyms
gang,
company,
group,
set,
party,
team,
lot,
club,
body,
association,
crowd,
troop,
pack,
camp,
squad,
crew (informal),
assembly,
mob,
horde,
troupe,
posse (informal),
clique,
coterie,
bevy
Synonyms of 'parcel'
parcel
Explore 'parcel' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of batch
Definition
a group of similar objects or people dispatched or dealt with at the same time
the current batch of trainee priests
Synonyms
group,
set,
lot,
crowd,
pack,
collection,
quantity,
bunch,
accumulation,
assortment,
consignment,
assemblage,
aggregation
in the sense of box
Definition
a container with a firm base and sides and sometimes a removable or hinged lid
They sat on wooden boxes.
Synonyms
container,
case,
chest,
trunk,
pack,
package,
carton,
casket,
receptacle,
ark (dialect),
portmanteau,
coffret,
kist (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
in the sense of bunch
Definition
a group or company
The players were a great bunch.
Synonyms
group,
band,
crowd,
party,
team,
troop,
gathering,
crew (informal),
gang,
knot,
mob,
flock,
swarm,
multitude,
posse (informal),
bevy
in the sense of bundle
Definition
something wrapped or tied for carrying
Synonyms
package,
box,
roll,
pack,
bag,
packet,
parcel,
bale,
crate,
carton,
pallet
in the sense of carton
Definition
a cardboard box or container
A large and heavy cardboard carton had been delivered to the house.
Synonyms
box,
case,
pack,
package,
container
in the sense of case
Definition
a container, such as a box or chest
There was a ten-foot long stuffed alligator in a glass case.
Synonyms
cabinet,
box,
chest,
holder
in the sense of collection
Definition
a group of people
A collection of people of all ages assembled to pay their respects.
Synonyms
group,
company,
crowd,
gathering,
assembly,
cluster,
congregation,
assortment,
assemblage
in the sense of company
Definition
a number of people gathered together
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
Synonyms
group,
troupe,
set,
community,
league,
band,
crowd,
camp,
collection,
gathering,
circle,
crew (informal),
assembly,
convention,
ensemble,
throng,
coterie,
bevy,
assemblage,
party,
body
in the sense of crew
Definition
any group of people
a motley crew of college friends
Synonyms
crowd,
set,
lot,
bunch (informal),
band,
troop,
pack,
camp,
gang,
mob,
herd,
swarm,
company,
horde,
posse (informal),
assemblage
in the sense of crowd
Definition
a particular group of people
All the old crowd from my university days were there.
Synonyms
group,
set,
lot,
circle,
gang,
bunch (informal),
clique
Additional synonyms
in the sense of gang
Definition
a group of people who go around together, often to commit crime
He was attacked by a gang of strangers.
Synonyms
group,
crowd,
pack,
company,
party,
lot,
band,
crew (informal),
bunch,
mob,
horde
in the sense of lot
Definition
a collection of things or people
We've just sacked one lot of builders.
Synonyms
bunch (informal),
group,
crowd,
crew (informal),
set,
band,
quantity,
assortment,
consignment
in the sense of pack
Definition
a pack of biscuits
Synonyms
packet,
box,
package,
carton
in the sense of pack
Definition
any collection of people or things
a pack of journalists who wanted to interview him
Synonyms
group,
crowd,
collection,
company,
set,
lot,
band,
troop,
crew (informal),
drove,
gang,
deck,
bunch (informal),
mob,
flock,
herd,
assemblage
in the sense of pack
Definition
to put (articles) in a case or container for moving
Orders come packed in straw-filled boxes.
Synonyms
parcel,
tie (up),
wrap (up),
swathe,
envelop,
encase,
swaddle
in the sense of packet
Definition
a small parcel
the cost of sending letters and packets abroad
Synonyms
package,
parcel
in the sense of patch
Definition
a small plot of land
the little vegetable patch in her backyard
Synonyms
plot,
area,
ground,
land,
tract
in the sense of section
Definition
a distinct part of a country or community
Kolonarai is a lovely residential section of Athens.