Paperweight
noun
A small heavy object people often place on papers to keep them from blowing away.
She placed a beautiful glass paperweight on the documents so they wouldn't scatter.
Often appears as...
- glass paperweight
- crystal paperweight
noun
A useless or non-functioning device or tool.
After it broke, her cell phone was no more than a fancy paperweight.
Often appears as...
- expensive paperweight
- useless paperweight
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A small heavy object people often place on papers to keep them from blowing away.
She placed a beautiful glass paperweight on the documents so they wouldn't scatter.
Often appears as...
- glass paperweight
- crystal paperweight
noun
A useless or non-functioning device or tool.
After it broke, her cell phone was no more than a fancy paperweight.
Often appears as...
- expensive paperweight
- useless paperweight
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Keeps Papers Still
The primary purpose of a paperweight is to hold down papers, often in offices or windy conditions.
He used a paperweight to prevent the draft from blowing his reports off the desk.
Pro Tip 2/3Decorative Piece
Paperweights can also be ornamental, with beautiful designs, serving as a desk accessory.
She received a hand-painted paperweight as a souvenir.
Pro Tip 3/3Material Variety
They can be made from different materials, such as glass, stone, or metal, often reflecting quality.
His antique bronze paperweight was quite the conversation starter.
Pro Tip 1/3Keeps Papers Still
The primary purpose of a paperweight is to hold down papers, often in offices or windy conditions.
He used a paperweight to prevent the draft from blowing his reports off the desk.
Pro Tip 2/3Decorative Piece
Paperweights can also be ornamental, with beautiful designs, serving as a desk accessory.
She received a hand-painted paperweight as a souvenir.
Pro Tip 3/3Material Variety
They can be made from different materials, such as glass, stone, or metal, often reflecting quality.
His antique bronze paperweight was quite the conversation starter.
Pro Tip 1/3Keeps Papers Still
The primary purpose of a paperweight is to hold down papers, often in offices or windy conditions.
He used a paperweight to prevent the draft from blowing his reports off the desk.
Pro Tip 2/3Decorative Piece
Paperweights can also be ornamental, with beautiful designs, serving as a desk accessory.
She received a hand-painted paperweight as a souvenir.
Pro Tip 3/3Material Variety
They can be made from different materials, such as glass, stone, or metal, often reflecting quality.
His antique bronze paperweight was quite the conversation starter.
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Video examples
Inside OKCupid: The math...
they are a step-by-step way to solve a problem, and as you probably know, computers excel at step-by-step processes. A computer without an algorithm is basically an expensive paperweight. And since computers are such a pervasive part of everyday life, algorithms are everywhere.
Video examples
Inside Neil deGrasse...
Station this is a paperweight with the logo of NASA on it and no one under 30 even understands why paper weights exist and many of them don't even know what one is this is cool on this surface is a
Video examples
The incredible chemistry...
Because without chemistry, what is an information superhighway that we love, would just be a really expensive, shiny paperweight. Chemistry enables all of these layers.
Video examples
Inside OKCupid: The math...
they are a step-by-step way to solve a problem, and as you probably know, computers excel at step-by-step processes. A computer without an algorithm is basically an expensive paperweight. And since computers are such a pervasive part of everyday life, algorithms are everywhere.
Video examples
Inside Neil deGrasse...
Station this is a paperweight with the logo of NASA on it and no one under 30 even understands why paper weights exist and many of them don't even know what one is this is cool on this surface is a
Video examples
The incredible chemistry...
Because without chemistry, what is an information superhighway that we love, would just be a really expensive, shiny paperweight. Chemistry enables all of these layers.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Jeffrey Eugenides
American Novelist
The Pulitzer isn't a physical object. You can't hold it in your hand. You get some money ($7,500 in my day), and you get a little Tiffany's paperweight with your name on it and the image of Joseph Pulitzer suspended in the crystal. When people see my 'Pulitzer' (I keep it in my sock drawer), they are pretty amazed at its meagerness.
Quote examples
Hod Lipson
American Scientist
When it costs you the same amount of manufacturing effort to make advanced robotic parts as it does to manufacture a paperweight, that really changes things in a profound way.
Quote examples
Michael Korda
English Novelist
When I started work at Simon & Schuster in 1958, each of us got a bronze paperweight on which was written, in raised type, 'Give the reader a break,' Richard E. Simon.
Quote examples
Ray Bradbury
American Writer
I have my favorite cat, who is my paperweight, on my desk while I am writing.
Quote examples
Jeffrey Eugenides
American Novelist
The Pulitzer isn't a physical object. You can't hold it in your hand. You get some money ($7,500 in my day), and you get a little Tiffany's paperweight with your name on it and the image of Joseph Pulitzer suspended in the crystal. When people see my 'Pulitzer' (I keep it in my sock drawer), they are pretty amazed at its meagerness.
Quote examples
Hod Lipson
American Scientist
When it costs you the same amount of manufacturing effort to make advanced robotic parts as it does to manufacture a paperweight, that really changes things in a profound way.
Quote examples
Michael Korda
English Novelist
When I started work at Simon & Schuster in 1958, each of us got a bronze paperweight on which was written, in raised type, 'Give the reader a break,' Richard E. Simon.
Quote examples
Ray Bradbury
American Writer
I have my favorite cat, who is my paperweight, on my desk while I am writing.
Example 1 of 4
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