The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Para- \Par"a-\ [Gr. para` beside; prob. akin to E. for- in
   forgive. Cf. For-.]
   1. A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against,
      amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox,
      that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Chem.) A prefix denoting:
      (a) Likeness, similarity, or connection, or that the
          substance resembles, but is distinct from, that to the
          name of which it is prefixed; as paraldehyde,
          paraconine, etc.; also, an isomeric modification.
      (b) Specifically: (Organ. Chem.) That two groups or
          radicals substituted in the benzene nucleus are
          opposite, or in the respective positions 1 and 4; 2
          and 5; or 3 and 6, as paraxylene; paroxybenzoic acid.
          Cf. Ortho-, and Meta-. Also used adjectively.
          [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Para \Pa*ra"\, n. [Turk., fr. Per. p[=a]rah a piece.]
   A piece of Turkish money, usually copper, the fortieth part
   of a piaster, or about one ninth of a cent.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Par'a \Pa*r['a]"\, n.
   1. The southern arm of the Amazon in Brazil; also, a seaport
      on this arm.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   2. Short for Par['a] rubber.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.] Para-anaesthesia

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

para
    n 1: (obstetrics) the number of liveborn children a woman has
         delivered; "the parity of the mother must be considered";
         "a bipara is a woman who has given birth to two children"
         [syn: parity, para]
    2: 100 para equal 1 dinar in Yugoslavia
    3: a soldier in the paratroops [syn: paratrooper, para]
    4: an estuary in northern Brazil into which the Tocantins River
       flows [syn: Para, Para River]
    5: port city in northern Brazil in the Amazon delta; main port
       and commercial center for the Amazon River basin [syn:
       Belem, Para, Feliz Lusitania, Santa Maria de Belem,
       St. Mary of Bethlehem]