a stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, usually a sheep or goat, and used as a durable writing surface in ancient and medieval times:he borrowed a quill and a piece of parchmenthis skin stretched like old parchment over his cheeks [as modifier]:parchment rolls
[count noun] a manuscript written on parchment:a large collection of ancient parchments
(also parchment paper) a type of stiff translucent paper treated to resemble parchment and used for lampshades, as a writing surface, and in baking:line a 2 lb loaf tin with baking parchment
[count noun] informal a diploma or other formal document:she taught for two years till she got her parchment
