1 parcel | Definition of parcel

parcel

noun
par·​cel | \ ˈpĂ€r-səl How to pronounce parcel (audio) \

Definition of parcel

 (Entry 1 of 4)

1 : a tract or plot of land a parcel of real estate
2a : a wrapped bundle : package The parcel was shipped today.
b : a unit of salable merchandise a parcel in an auction
3 : a company, collection, or group of persons, animals, or things : lot The whole story was a parcel of lies. a parcel of giddy young kids— Mark Twain
4a : fragment, portion sold his stocks by parcels
b : a volume of a fluid (such as air) considered as a single entity within a greater volume of the same fluid

parcel

verb
parceled or parcelled; parceling or parcelling\ ˈpĂ€r-​s(ə-​)liƋ How to pronounce parcelling (audio) \

Definition of parcel (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to divide into parts : distribute often used with out
2 : to make up into a parcel : wrap
3 : to cover (something, such as a rope) with strips of canvas or tape

parcel

adjective

Definition of parcel (Entry 3 of 4)

parcel

adverb

Definition of parcel (Entry 4 of 4)

archaic
: partly

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Examples of parcel in a Sentence

Noun

a parcel of real estate her absurd explanation for the collision was a parcel of lies

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Tim Gregory and Mallory Douthit off JLL are handling leasing of the 52,000-square-foot building, which is being built on a long-vacant parcel at Bissonnet and Newcastle. Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle, "Real estate transactions: Medical office building breaks ground in Bellaire," 30 Aug. 2019 Carlsbad Innovate is on a 4.3-acre parcel at 2810 Caribou Court. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, "North County Business Briefs, Aug. 29," 29 Aug. 2019 Originally built for producer Aaron Spelling and his widow, Candy Spelling, the mansion sits on a 4.7-acre parcel where crooner Bing Crosby once had a home. Los Angeles Times, "July’s biggest L.A. house sales brought fireworks in a $120-million deal," 16 Aug. 2019 Elorza had no interest in being remembered as the mayor who allowed a skyscraper to be left half built on such a precious parcel. Dan Mcgowan, BostonGlobe.com, "Was Mayor Elorza right about the Fane tower? A gripping story out of Bristol. No swimming at Scarborough," 31 July 2019 The Fort, as it is known, sits on a parcel of land leased from the City of Minneapolis. Caryn M. Sullivan, Twin Cities, "Caryn Sullivan: The real magic at The Fort happens in the afternoon," 28 July 2019 The nuclear research complex sits on a parcel of desert that is nearly the size of Rhode Island, and facilities there include nuclear reactors, high-level nuclear waste treatment plants and various nuclear research projects. USA TODAY, "Leaping frogs, spiny lobsters, hostile roosters: News from around our 50 states," 26 July 2019 The supplier plans to build its facility on a 159.5 acre parcel at South Santa Clara and Bolton roads along Interstate 10. Jeff B. Flinn, ExpressNews.com, "Transmission maker picks San Antonio area for $400-million plant," 23 July 2019 This unique lemonade stand is on a tiny parcel of land located on the Dequindre Cut. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Don't miss these restaurants at the Free Press' Wine + Food Experience," 11 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The county also had to override restrictive rules placed on the West Lake Park parcel that limited the site to park and recreation uses. Larry Barszewski, sun-sentinel.com, "Head-spinning real estate deals needed to keep new public safety radio system on track," 5 Sep. 2019 In practice, this means funneling Atlanta’s homeless—from those who have been living on the streets for years to the more recently displaced—into a crowded building where scarce resources are parceled out by way of a kind of triage. Brian Goldstone, The New Republic, "The New American Homeless," 21 Aug. 2019 For example, managers might need to find creative ways to tweak a person’s responsibilities, or parcel out work elsewhere, without unfairly loading other team members. Cassie Werber, Quartz at Work, "The three-stage blueprint for “crafting” a flexible career," 13 Aug. 2019 The three-week concert series, parceled out among several churches, presents repertory from baroque to brand-new. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, "D-FW connections abound in N.M. performances by pianist Haochen Zhang and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale," 6 Aug. 2019 Town officials and residents have been through many discussions of the now vacant parcel off Broad Street in the last decade. Jesse Leavenworth, courant.com, "Finally, a proposal for the once “dark side” of the Manchester Parkade," 9 July 2019 Singer has since admitted that his Key Worldwide Foundation was little more than a sham used to launder money from clients and parcel out bribes to coaches, test proctors and bagmen. Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, "FBI found clues to college admissions scandal years earlier in massive Medicare fraud case," 26 July 2019 To lug the weather station to top of the world had required parceling its pieces out among the members of their team. National Geographic, "Inside the Everest expedition that built the world’s highest weather station," 27 June 2019 Subway parcels its vast network of stores into more than 100 regional fiefs. New York Times, "Subway Got Too Big. Franchisees Paid a Price.," 28 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parcel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of parcel

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for parcel

Noun, Verb, Adjective, and Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French parcele, from Vulgar Latin *particella, from Latin particula small part — more at particle

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