paragraph

UK: /ˈpærəgrɑːf/ US: /ˈpærəˌgræf/ ,(par′ə graf′, -gräf′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•a•graph /ˈpærəˌgræf/   n. [countable]

1. a distinct portion of written matter that deals with a particular idea, usually containing several sentences and beginning with a new line that is usually indented.

See -graph-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•a•graph  (par′ə graf′, -gräf′), n. 

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.

v.t. 

4. to divide into paragraphs.
5. to write or publish paragraphs about, as in a newspaper.
6. to express in a paragraph.

• Greek paragraphé̄ marked passage; see para-¹, graph
• 1515–25; earlier paragraphe

par′a•graph•ism, n. 
par•a•gra•phis•ti•cal  (par′ə grə fis′ti kəl), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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. 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)

1. to form into paragraphs
2. to express or report in a paragraph

Etymology: 16th Century: 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

paragraphic / ˌpærəˈɡræfɪk/, ˌparaˈgraphical adjective

ˌparaˈgraphically adverb