para: Meaning and Definition of

pa•ra

1. a former copper coin of Turkey, the 40th part of a piaster.

pa•ra

1. an aluminum-bronze coin and monetary unit of Yugoslavia, the 100th part of a dinar.

par•a

1. pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 4) in the benzene ring that are separated by two carbon atoms. Cf..

1. para-dichlorobenzene.

par•a

1. a paraprofessional.
2. a paratrooper.

par•a

1. Also calleda woman's status regarding the bearing of viable offspring: usually followed by a Roman numeral designating the number of times the woman has given birth.
2. the woman herself. Cf.

Pa•rá

1. an estuary in N Brazil: an arm of the Amazon. 200 mi. (320 km) long; 40 mi. (65 km) wide.
2. Belém.
3. See

para-

1. a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, most often attached to verbs and verbal derivatives, with the meanings “at or to one side of, beside, side by side” (parabola; paragraph; parallel; paralysis), “beyond, past, by” (paradox; paragogue); by extension from these senses, this prefix came to designate objects or activities auxiliary to or derivative of that denoted by the base word (parody; paronomasia), and hence abnormal or defective (paranoia), a sense now common in modern scientific coinages (parageusia; paralexia). As an English prefix, may have any of these senses; it is also productive in the naming of occupational roles considered ancillary or subsidiary to roles requiring more training, or of a higher status, on such models asandparalegal; paralibrarian; parapolice.
2. a combining form designating the para (1, 4) position in the benzene ring. Abbr.: p-. Cf.(def. 2c),(def. 2b). See diag. under

para-

1. a combining form meaning “guard against,” occurring in loanwords from French, or, via French, from Italian: parachute; parasol.

para-

1. a combining form extracted fromforming compounds denoting persons or things utilizing parachutes or landed by parachute: paradrop; paradoctor; paraglider; paratrooper.

Para.

1. Paraguay.