par

Universal Words noun [U] 1 (in golf) the number of strokes a good player should need to complete a course or to hit the ball into a particular hole: a par five hole * Par for the course is 72. * She went round the course in three under (= three strokes less than) par. 2 (also par value) (business) the value that a share in a company had originally: to be redeemed at par IDIOMS below / under par less well, good, etc. than is usual or expected: I may take tomorrow off if I'm still feeling under par. * Teaching in some subjects has been well below par. be par for the course (disapproving) to be just what you would expect to happen or expect sb to do in a particular situation: Starting early and working long hours is par for the course in this job. on a par with sb/sth as good, bad, important, etc. as sb/sth else up to par as good as usual or as good as it should be: I didn't think her performance was up to par.