Papyrus

usgb/pəˈpaɪrəs/
noun

A material used for writing in ancient times, made from the stem of a water plant.

The ancient Egyptians wrote hieroglyphics on papyrus.
Visual representation of "papyrus" - A material used for writing in ancient times, made from the stem of a water plant.

Often appears as...

  • papyrus scroll
  • papyrus manuscript
Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "papyrus"
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Historical Use

Papyrus was like ancient paper but has a texture that suggests it's handmade, not smooth.

Illustration for Historical Use
The texture of the papyrus made it difficult to decipher the ancient text.
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Cultural Artifact

In films or museums, papyrus often represents ancient civilizations, especially Egypt.

Illustration for Cultural Artifact
They displayed replicas of papyrus scrolls in the exhibit on Ancient Egypt.
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Archaic Term

Use 'paper' instead of 'papyrus' unless referring to historical contexts or artifacts.

Illustration for Archaic Term
For your history project, create a document that looks like it's written on papyrus.
Visual representation of the word "Papyrus"

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