parcel

UK: /ˈpɑː^rs^əl/ US: /ˈpɑrsəl/ ,(pär′səl)

Inflections of 'parcel' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

When both "l" and "ll" forms exist, spellings with a double "l" are correct, but rare, in US English, while those with a single "l" are not correct in UK English.

parcels

v 3rd person singular

parcelling

v pres p (Mainly UK)

parceling

v pres p (US)

parcelled

v past (Mainly UK)

parceled

v past (US)

parcelled

v past p (Mainly UK)

parceled

v past p (US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

par•cel /ˈpɑrsəl/   n., v., -celed, -cel•ing or (esp. Brit.) -celled, -cel•ling, adv. 
n. [countable]

1. an object wrapped up to form a small bundle;
   a package:
   stored most of our belongings in parcels.
2. a distinct, continuous piece of land:
   a parcel in the backwoods.

v. 

3. to divide into or give out in portions: [~ + object]
   He parceled the land among his three sons.
   [~ + out + object]
   He parceled out the land among his three sons.
   [~ + object + out]
   He parceled the land out.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

par•cel  (pär′səl), n., v., -celed, -cel•ing or (esp. Brit.) -celled, -cel•ling, adv. 
n. 

1. an object, article, container, or quantity of something wrapped or packed up;
   small package;
   bundle.
2. a quantity or unit of something, as of a commodity for sale;
   lot.
3. a group, collection, or assemblage of persons or things.
4. a distinct, continuous portion or tract of land.
5. a part, portion, or fragment.

v.t. 

6. to divide into or distribute in parcels or portions (usually fol. by out).
7. to make into a parcel or wrap as a parcel.
8. Nautical, Naval Terms to cover or wrap (a rope) with strips of canvas.

adv. 

9. [Archaic.] in part;
   partially.

• Late Latin *particella, fresh formation for Latin particula; see particle, passel
• Middle French parcelle
• Middle English 1275–1325

Synonyms

• 1. See package. 
• 3. batch, assortment.
• 6. mete, apportion, deal, allot.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

parcel / ˈpɑːs^əl/ 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

verb ( -cels, -celling, -celled) ( -cels, -celing, -celed)(transitive)

1. (often followed by up) to make a parcel of; wrap up
2. (often followed by out) to divide (up) into portions

adverb

1. an archaic word for partly

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French parcelle, from Latin particula particle