Wrap vs. Parcel — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 9, 2024
A wrap generally refers to a flexible covering, often food-related, while a parcel is a package prepared for shipping.
Difference Between Wrap and Parcel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A wrap is typically used to refer to food items enveloped in a soft outer layer, such as tortillas or lettuce, whereas a parcel refers to an object or group of objects wrapped and prepared for shipping.
In culinary contexts, a wrap is a convenient meal option, designed to be hand-held and eaten on the go, while a parcel, in shipping, is sealed and secured to protect its contents during transit.
The term wrap is also used metaphorically in other contexts to signify completion or enclosure, like wrapping up a meeting; on the other hand, a parcel specifically denotes a packaged item, often with a destination address.
Materials for wraps in food include ingredients like flour tortillas or rice paper, whereas parcels are commonly enclosed in materials like cardboard, bubble wrap, or plastic.
When discussing functionality, a wrap’s primary role is to contain and serve food in a manageable, appetizing form, whereas a parcel's purpose is to ensure the safe and efficient transport of goods from one place to another.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A cover or encasement, often food-related
A package prepared for shipping
Use
To hold food items together for consumption
To protect and transport goods
Material Examples
Tortillas, lettuce, pita
Cardboard, plastic, bubble wrap
Context
Culinary, metaphorical
Shipping, mailing
Functionality
Convenience, portability
Protection, transportation
Compare with Definitions
Wrap
A garment that can be wrapped around the body.
She wore a wrap dress to the party.
Parcel
An object or collection of objects wrapped in paper.
She sent a parcel of homemade cookies.
Wrap
To cover something completely.
She wrapped the gift beautifully in shiny paper.
Parcel
Something that is a part of a whole.
That plot of land was a small parcel of his vast estate.
Wrap
A cover used to enclose something for flexibility.
He used a plastic wrap to cover the leftovers.
Parcel
To package and send.
He parceled the documents to the branch office.
Wrap
A finishing signal in film production.
The director called a wrap after the final scene was shot.
Parcel
To divide into portions.
The teacher parceled out the supplies to the students.
Wrap
A food item made by rolling ingredients in a soft flatbread.
She ordered a chicken wrap for lunch.
Parcel
An object or collection of objects wrapped in paper in order to be carried or sent by post
A brown paper parcel
A parcel bomb
The lorry was carrying a large number of Royal Mail parcels
Wrap
Cover or enclose in paper or soft material
Leonora wrapped herself in a large white bath towel
He wrapped up the Christmas presents
Parcel
A quantity or amount of something, especially as dealt with in one commercial transaction
A parcel of shares
Wrap
Cause (a word or unit of text) to be carried over to a new line automatically as the margin is reached, or to fit around embedded features such as pictures
Words are wrapped to the next line if they are too long
The program can automatically wrap text around irregularly shaped graphics
Parcel
Make (something) into a parcel by wrapping it
He parcelled up the goods and sent them back
Wrap
Finish filming or recording
We wrapped on schedule three days later
Parcel
Wrap (rope) with strips of tarred canvas, before binding it with yarn as part of a traditional technique to reduce chafing.
Wrap
A loose outer garment or piece of material
Beach wraps
Parcel
Something wrapped up or packaged; a package.
Wrap
The end of a session of filming or recording
Right, it's a wrap
Parcel
A plot of land, usually a division of a larger area.
Wrap
A tortilla wrapped around a cold filling, eaten as a sandwich.
Parcel
A quantity of merchandise offered for sale.
Wrap
To arrange or fold (something) about as cover or protection
She wrapped her fur coat closely about herself.
Parcel
A group or company; a pack
"this youthful parcel of noble bachelors" (Shakespeare).
Wrap
To cover, envelop, or encase, as by folding or coiling something about
Wrapped my head in a scarf.
Parcel
To divide into parts and distribute
Parceled out the land to their three children.
Wrap
To enclose, especially in paper, and fasten
Wrap a package.
Wrapped up the peelings.
Parcel
To make into a parcel; package.
Wrap
To clasp, fold, or coil about something
She wrapped her arms about his neck.
Parcel
(Nautical) To wind protective strips of canvas around (rope).
Wrap
To move (text that will not fit on a line) automatically to the following line.
Parcel
A package wrapped for shipment.
I saw a brown paper parcel on my doorstep.
Wrap
To envelop and obscure
Fog wrapped the city.
Parcel
An individual consignment of cargo for shipment, regardless of size and form.
Wrap
To surround or involve in a specified quality or atmosphere
The plan was wrapped in secrecy.
Parcel
An individual item appearing on an invoice or receipt (only in the phrase bill of parcels).
Wrap
To engross
She was wrapped in thought.
Parcel
A division of land bought and sold as a unit.
I own a small parcel of land between the refinery and the fish cannery.
Wrap
To coil or twist about or around something
The flag wrapped around the pole.
Parcel
(obsolete) A group of birds.
Wrap
To be moved automatically to the following line upon reaching a margin. Used of text.
Parcel
An indiscriminate or indefinite number, measure, or quantity; a collection; a group.
Wrap
To put on warm clothing. Usually used with up.
Parcel
A small amount of food that has been wrapped up, for example a pastry.
Wrap
To conclude filming
The movie is scheduled to wrap next week.
Parcel
A portion of anything taken separately; a fragment of a whole; a part.
A certain piece of land is part and parcel of another piece.
Wrap
A garment to be wrapped or folded about a person, especially an outer garment such as a robe, cloak, shawl, or coat.
Parcel
To wrap something up into the form of a package.
Wrap
A blanket.
Parcel
To wrap a strip around the end of a rope.
Worm and parcel with the lay; turn and serve the other way.
Wrap
A wrapping or wrapper.
Parcel
To divide and distribute by parts or portions; often with out or into.
Wrap
A flatbread, such as a tortilla or lavash, rolled around a filling. Also called roll-up.
Parcel
To add a parcel or item to; to itemize.
Wrap
The completion of filming on a movie.
Parcel
(obsolete) Part or half; in part; partially.
Wrap
(transitive) To enclose (an object) completely in any flexible, thin material such as fabric or paper.
Christmas gifts are commonly known to be wrapped in paper.
Parcel
A portion of anything taken separately; a fragment of a whole; a part.
Two parcels of the white of an egg.
The parcels of the nation adopted different forms of self-government.
Wrap
(transitive) To enclose or coil around an object or organism, as a form of grasping.
A snake wraps itself around its prey.
Parcel
A part; a portion; a piece; as, a certain piece of land is part and parcel of another piece.
Wrap
(figurative) To conceal by enveloping or enfolding; to hide.
Parcel
An indiscriminate or indefinite number, measure, or quantity; a collection; a group.
This youthful parcelOf noble bachelors stand at my disposing.
Wrap
To finish shooting (filming) a video, television show, or movie.
To avoid going over budget, let's make sure we wrap by ten. (compare wrap up 2)
Parcel
A number or quantity of things put up together; a bundle; a package; a packet.
'Tis like a parcel sent you by the stage.
Wrap
(lines, words, text, etc.) To break a continuous line (of text) onto the next line
I wrapped the text so that I wouldn't need to scroll to the right to read it.
Parcel
To divide and distribute by parts or portions; - often with out or into.
These ghostly kings would parcel out my power.
The broad woodland parceled into farms.
Wrap
To make functionality available through a software wrapper.
Parcel
To add a parcel or item to; to itemize.
That mine own servant shouldParcel the sum of my disgraces byAddition of his envy.
Wrap
(transitive) To (cause to) reset to an original value after passing a maximum.
The row counter wraps back to zero when no more rows can be inserted.
Parcel
To make up into a parcel; as, to parcel a customer's purchases; the machine parcels yarn, wool, etc.
Wrap
Paper or sheeting that is wrapped around something to protect, contain, or conceal it.
Parcel
Part or half; in part; partially.
The worthy dame was parcel-blind.
One that . . . was parcel-bearded [partially bearded].
Wrap
A loose piece of women's clothing that one wraps around the body; a shawl or scarf.
Parcel
A wrapped container
Wrap
An outer garment worn as protection while riding, travelling etc.
Parcel
The result of parcelling out or sharing;
Death gets more than its share of attention from theologicans
Wrap
A type of food consisting of various ingredients wrapped in a tortilla or pancake.
Parcel
An extended area of land
Wrap
(entertainment) The completion of all or a major part of a performance.
Parcel
A collection of things wrapped or boxed together
Wrap
A wraparound mortgage.
Parcel
Divide into parts;
The developers parceled the land
Wrap
A complete news report ready for broadcast, incorporating spoken reporting and other material.
Parcel
Cover with strips of canvas;
Parcel rope
Wrap
To snatch up; transport; - chiefly used in the p. p. wrapt.
Lo! where the stripling, wrapt in wonder, roves.
Parcel
Make into a wrapped container
Wrap
To wind or fold together; to arrange in folds.
Then cometh Simon Peter, . . . and seeth . . . the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couchAbout him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
Wrap
To cover by winding or folding; to envelop completely; to involve; to infold; - often with up.
I . . . wrapt in mistOf midnight vapor, glide obscure.
Wrap
To conceal by enveloping or infolding; to hide; hence, to involve, as an effect or consequence; to be followed by.
Wise poets that wrap truth in tales.
Leontine's young wife, in whom all his happiness was wrapped up, died in a few days after the death of her daughter.
Things reflected on in gross and transiently . . . are thought to be wrapped up in impenetrable obscurity.
Wrap
A wrapper; - often used in the plural for blankets, furs, shawls, etc., used in riding or traveling.
Wrap
Cloak that is folded or wrapped around a person
Wrap
A sandwich in which the filling is rolled up in a soft tortilla
Wrap
The covering (usually paper or cellophane) in which something is wrapped
Wrap
Arrange or fold as a cover or protection;
Wrap the baby before taking her out
Wrap the present
Wrap
Wrap or coil around;
Roll your hair around your finger
Twine the thread around the spool
Wrap
Enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering;
Fog enveloped the house
Common Curiosities
What is a wrap commonly made of in culinary settings?
In culinary settings, a wrap is commonly made of soft flatbreads like tortillas or pita.
How is a parcel typically sealed for shipping?
A parcel is typically sealed with tape and sometimes secured further with straps or shrink wrap.
Is a wrap considered a full meal?
Yes, a wrap is often considered a full meal, especially when filled with a variety of ingredients.
How do the purposes of wraps and parcels differ?
The purpose of a wrap is primarily to hold food for easy consumption, while a parcel's purpose is to ensure the safe shipment of goods.
Can the term wrap be used in contexts other than food?
Yes, wrap can be used metaphorically to indicate the conclusion of events, or physically to enclose something completely.
What are the typical contents of a parcel?
The typical contents of a parcel can range from documents and gifts to bulkier items like electronics.
Is there a specific way to prepare a food wrap to prevent spillage?
Yes, it is common to fold the bottom of the wrap inward while rolling to encase the contents securely.
Can a parcel be used for international shipping?
Yes, parcels can be prepared and sent internationally with appropriate customs documentation.
How does the weight of a parcel affect its shipping?
The weight of a parcel can significantly affect shipping costs and the method of transportation used.
What precautions are taken when preparing a parcel for shipment?
Precautions include using protective packing materials and ensuring the parcel is properly sealed and labeled.
What types of materials can be used to make a wrap?
Materials for making a wrap include flour tortillas, corn tortillas, lettuce leaves, or even seaweed.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
