noun
bill
A piece of paper money.
She hands the cashier a twenty-dollar bill for lunch.
Etymology
The older word names a written document. The money sense narrows it to a note representing a monetary value, retaining the connection with a portable piece of writing.
More examples
- He folds the bill into his wallet.
- The machine rejects the torn bill.
- She exchanges a large bill for smaller ones.
Forms
bill · bills
Similar words
- banknote
- A formal term for paper currency.
- coin
- A piece of currency made from metal.