Parcel — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective adverb /ˈpär-səl/ par·cel

Meaning & Definition of Parcel

Parcel (noun)

  1. a tract or plot of land
  2. a wrapped bundle, package
  3. a unit of salable merchandise

Parcel (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)

  1. part-time, partial

Parcel (adverb)

  1. partly

Parcel (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a number of things considered as a unit

    "her absurd explanation for the collision was a parcel of lies"

    similar: array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, collection, constellation, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, passel, set, suite, the whole kit and caboodle
    related: accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration, agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety, cycle, run, series, suit
    near: entity, item, single, unit

  2. a small area of usually open land

    "wandered around the little parcel out back"

    similar: clearing, field, ground, lot, plat, plot, tract
    related: common(s), croft (chiefly British), grass, green, greensward, lawn, glade, grassland, heath, heathland, lea, meadow, moor, pasture, pastureland

  3. a small piece of land that is developed or available for development

    "subdivided the huge farm into smaller parcels for sale"

    similar: lot, plat, plot, property, tract
    related: patch, frontage, lease, development, real estate

  4. a usually small number of persons considered as a unit

    "a parcel of kids trailing at their heels"

    similar: array, band, batch, battery, body, boodle, bunch, cluster, clutch, consort, constellation, crop, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, party, passel, the whole kit and caboodle
    related: assembly, collective, congregation, gathering, muster, organization, circle, clan, clique, coterie, fellowship, gang, ring, round, set, faction, guild, order, school, sect, brigade, crew, outfit, phalanx, platoon, posse, task force, team, alliance, bloc, coalition, confederacy, confederation, federation, league, union, battalion, squadron, bevy, brood, covey
    near: individual, single

  5. a wrapped or sealed case containing an item or set of items

    "received a mysterious parcel in the mail"

    similar: bundle, pack, package, packet
    related: bag, poke (chiefly Southern & Midland), pouch, sack, bale, box, container, crate

Related Entry: Parcel (out) (verb)

Parcel (out) is a different word from Parcel. The synonyms below are for parcel (out), not for parcel.

  1. to give out (something) to appropriate individuals

    "parceled out the assignments for work on the parish fair"

    similar: administer, allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, hand out, mete (out), portion, prorate
    related: admeasure, allot, allow, appropriate, assign, dish out, divide, divvy (up), dollop (out), lot, measure (out), part, proportion, ration, redistribute, set, share (out), split, bestow, disburse, furnish, issue, provide, share, supply, circulate, disperse, disseminate, scatter, spread, chip in, contribute, donate, pledge, reallocate, reapportion
    opposite: misallocate
    near: begrudge, decline, deny, deprive (of), disallow, refuse, reject, withhold, niggle (out), pinch, skimp, stint

Related Entry: Parcel post (noun)

Parcel post is a different word from Parcel. The synonyms below are for parcel post, not for parcel.

  1. communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system

    "only parcel post bearing a return address and not exceeding size and weight limits will be accepted"

    similar: correspondence, mail, matter, post (chiefly British), snail mail
    related: airmail, airpost, certified mail, registered mail, rural delivery, rural free delivery, special delivery, special handling, direct mail, junk mail, mailer, card, dispatch, epistle, letter, message, missive, note, postal card, postcard, printed matter, bundle, package, shipment

Related Entry: Parcel posts (noun)

Parcel posts is a different word from Parcel. The synonyms below are for parcel posts, not for parcel.

  1. communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system

    "only parcel post bearing a return address and not exceeding size and weight limits will be accepted"

    similar: correspondences, mails, matters, posts (chiefly British), snail mail
    related: airmails, airposts, certified mails, registered mails, rural deliveries, rural free deliveries, special deliveries, special handlings, direct mails, junk mails, mailers, cards, dispatches, epistles, letters, messages, missives, notes, postal cards, postcards, printed matters, bundles, packages, shipments

Related Entry: Part and parcel (noun)

Part and parcel is a different word from Parcel. The synonyms below are for part and parcel, not for parcel.

  1. as in basis

    similar: basis, building block, component, constituent, element, factor, ingredient, member, detail, item, particular, point, aspect, characteristic, facet, feature, trait, division, fragment, particle, partition, piece, portion, section, sector, segment, subcomponent
    opposite: whole, aggregate, composite, compound, mass, entirety, sum, summation, total, totality, admixture, amalgam, amalgamation, blend, combination, intermixture, mix, mixture

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Parcel

The most common words with a similar meaning to Parcel:

array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, collection, constellation, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, passel, set, suite, clearing, field, ground, plat, plot, tract, property, body, boodle, consort, crop, party, bundle, pack, packet, the whole kit and caboodle

Related Words for Parcel

accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration, agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety, cycle, run, series, suit, common(s), croft, grass, green, greensward, lawn, glade, grassland, heath, heathland, lea, meadow, moor

Near Antonyms of Parcel

entity, item, single, unit, individual

Word Forms of Parcel

Inflections: parceled, parcelled, parceling, parcelling

Origin & Etymology of Parcel

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

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Parcel

parcel post, parcel bomb, parcel off, parcel out, parcel up, part and parcel

Frequently Asked Questions about Parcel

What does "Parcel" mean?

"Parcel" means a tract or plot of land. As an a noun, a verb, an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: a tract or plot of land. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Parcel"?

Other words for "Parcel" include array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block and bunch. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Parcel" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Parcel"?

There are 124 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Parcel". Common alternatives include array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot and clump.

How do you use "Parcel" in a sentence?

Examples of "Parcel" in a sentence: "her absurd explanation for the collision was a parcel of lies"; "wandered around the little parcel out back"; "subdivided the huge farm into smaller parcels for sale".

Is "Parcel" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Parcel" can be used as a noun, a verb, an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Parcel"?

"Parcel" is pronounced /ˈpär-səl/ and divided into syllables as par·cel.

What is the origin of the word "Parcel"?

"Parcel" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French parcele, from Vulgar Latin *particella, from Latin particula small part particle. First known use: 14th century.

What is another word for "Parcel" meaning "a number of things considered as a unit"?

When "Parcel" (noun) means a number of things considered as a unit, synonyms include array, assemblage, band, bank, batch and battery.