paper mache

UK/ˌpeɪ.pəˈmaʃ.eɪ/

A form of papier-mâché — A composite material created by pulping paper or layering paper strips with an adhesive such as glue, starch or paste, which dries to form a durable, lightweight and moldable substance.

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Meanings

nounpaper mache (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of papier-mâché.
adjectivepaper mache (not comparable)
  1. alternativenot comparableAlternative form of papier-mâché.
verbpaper mache (third-person singular simple present paper maches, present participle paper maching, simple past and past participle paper mached or paper macheed)

present singular third person paper maches · participle present paper maching · participle past paper mached · past paper mached · participle past paper macheed · past paper macheed

  1. alternativeAlternative form of papier-mâché.

Origin

Influenced by the English cognate paper.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with paper mache

papier-mâché
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

paper mache. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paper%20mache

MLA

“paper mache.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paper%20mache. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paper mache,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paper%20mache.

Source: paper mache on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.