par
pronunciation
How to pronounce par in British English:
UK [pɑ:(r)]
How to pronounce par in American English:
US [pɑr]
-
- Noun:
- (golf) the standard number of strokes set for each hole on a golf course, or for the entire course
- a state of being essentially equal or equivalent; equally balanced
-
- Verb:
- make a score (on a hole) equal to par
Word Origin
- par
- par: see pair
- par (n.)
- 1620s, "equality," also "value of one currency in terms of another," from Latin par "equal, equal-sized, well-matched," also as a noun, "that which is equal, equality," of unknown origin. Watkins suggests perhaps from PIE root *pere- (2) "to grant, allot," with suggestion of reciprocality (see part (n.)). Another guess connects it with PIE root *per- "to traffic in, sell" (on notion of "give equal value for"); see pornography. Meaning "average or usual amount" is first attested 1767. Golf usage is first attested 1898. Figurative use of par for the course is from 1928.
- par (prep.)
- "by, for," mid-13c., from Old French par, per, from Latin per (see per).
Example
- 1. But four days after taking over as ceo , larry page unleashed a management shakeup that puts several of google 's other product lines on par with its dominant one .
- 2. Mr. mulally said he 's confident that ford 's new models will allow it to price its cars higher as u. s.consumers come to view its small cars on par with its competitors .
- 3. The notes are issued below par , but with no coupon .
- 4. The conversion rate would be at par but the switch would be made through a discount option , where the discount is likely to be higher the more a bond is undergoing market stress .
- 5. As a nod to the forum 's host city , mr. guo as well as others , including people 's bank of china gov. zhou xiaochuan , all pledged their support for shanghai to becoming a financial hub on par with new york , london and hong kong .