Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - parcel

~1 n 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 mail; package1 (1) AmE  (She tied up the parcel with string.) 2 an area of land that is part of a larger area which has been divided up  (a parcel of farmland) 3 BrE a small quantity of food that has been wrapped up, usually in pastry (1)  (parcels of cod)  (- see also part and parcel part1 (25)) ~2 v parcelled, parcelling BrE parceled, parceling AmE parcel sth out phr v to divide or share something among several people  (Government posts have already been parcelled out among the President's friends.) parcel sth off phr v to divide something into small parts so that it can be sold parcel sth up phr v BrE to make something into a parcel by wrapping it up