paragraph Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line
  2. verb divide into paragraphs, as of text
    • This story is well paragraphed
  3. verb write about in a paragraph
    • All her friends were paragraphed in last Monday's paper
  4. verb write paragraphs; work as a paragrapher

WordNet

Par"a*graph noun
Etymology
F. paragraphe, LL. paragraphus, fr. Gr. (sc. ) a line or stroke drawn in the margin, fr. to write beside; beside + to write. See Para-, and Graphic, and cf. Paraph.
Definitions
  1. Originally, a marginal mark or note, set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, e. g., a change of subject; now, the character , commonly used in the text as a reference mark to a footnote, or to indicate the place of a division into sections. ✍ This character is merely a modification of a capital P (the initial of the word paragraph), the letter being reversed, and the black part made white and the white part black for the sake of distinctiveness.
  2. A distinct part of a discourse or writing; any section or subdivision of a writing or chapter which relates to a particular point, whether consisting of one or many sentences. The division is sometimes noted by the mark , but usually, by beginning the first sentence of the paragraph on a new line and at more than the usual distance from the margin.
  3. A brief composition complete in one typographical section or paragraph; an item, remark, or quotation comprised in a few lines forming one paragraph; as, a column of news paragraphs; an editorial paragraph.
Par"a*graph transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Paragraphed ; present participle & verbal noun Paragraphing
Definitions
  1. To divide into paragraphs; to mark with the character ¶.
  2. To express in the compass of a paragraph; as, to paragraph an article.
  3. To mention in a paragraph or paragraphs

Webster 1913