| parallel |
lying or moving in the same direction and being the same distance apart at every point. Parallel lines never meet or cross each other. [5 definitions] |
| parallelogram |
a flat closed figure with four straight sides. The opposite sides are parallel and equal to each other. |
| paralyse |
a spelling of "paralyze" used in Canada and Britain. See "paralyze" for more information. |
| paralysis |
a loss of feeling in or the ability to move a body part. Paralysis is caused by injury or disease of the nervous system. |
| paralyze |
to make unable to move or to feel any sensation. [2 definitions] |
| paralyzed |
unable to move, or unable to feel any sensation. |
| paramecium |
a living thing made of one cell that lives in fresh water. Paramecia can only be seen through a microscope. Paramecia are protozoans, tiny organisms that are similar to animals. |
| paramount |
most important; chief; highest. |
| Paran� River |
a major river in South America that starts in Brazil and flows mostly south. The Paran� River eventually joins a river called the Uruguay and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the border between the countries of Argentina and Uruguay. |
| parasite |
a plant, animal, or fungus that lives on or in another living thing, called the host. A parasite gets its food and energy from the host organism. |
| parasol |
a light umbrella used especially by women to protect against the sun. |
| paratrooper |
a soldier trained to parachute from an airplane into an area where there is fighting. |
| parcel |
something wrapped or packed for carrying or shipping; package. [3 definitions] |
| parch |
to make very dry by heating. [2 definitions] |
| parchment |
a material like paper made of the skins of sheep or goats. [2 definitions] |
| pardon |
forgiveness for a small disturbance. [4 definitions] |
| pare |
to cut off the outside layer or ends from. [2 definitions] |
| parent |
a mother or a father. |
| parental |
of, relating to, or characteristic of a parent or parents. |
| parenthesis |
either of a pair of punctuation marks ( ). They are used to enclose information that is not part of the main sentence. They are also used to set apart mathematical quantities to be treated as a unit. |
| paring knife |
a small knife with a short blade used especially for peeling the skin of vegetables and fruits. |