parcel

par|cel¹ S3 [ˈpa:səl US ˈpa:r-] n

↑sticker, ↑string

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: Latin particula; PARTICLE]

1.) especially BrE an object that has been wrapped in paper or put in a special envelope, especially so that it can be sent by post

= ↑package

▪ The parcel was delivered last week.

▪ He sends regular food parcels to his family in Libya.

parcel of

▪ a parcel of clothes and blankets

2.) an area of land that is part of a larger area which has been divided up

parcel of

▪ a parcel of farmland

3.) BrE a small quantity of food that has been wrapped up, usually in ↑pastry

→be part and parcel of sth at ↑part¹ (28)

parcel ²

parcel² v past tense and past participle parcelled present participle parcelling BrE past tense and past participle parceled present participle parceling AmE

parcel off [parcel sth<=>off] phr v

to divide something into small parts so that it can be sold

▪ The new owner has parceled off many of the company's assets.

parcel out [parcel sth<=>out] phr v

to divide or share something among several people

▪ They didn't want the federal government parceling out food supplies.

parcel up [parcel sth<=>up] phr v

1.) to make something into a parcel by wrapping it up

▪ She parcelled up the photos.

2.) to divide something into small parts, especially so that it is easier to deal with

▪ University education is often parcelled up into specialist teaching units.