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box1 definition

box (bäks)

noun

  1. any of various kinds of containers, usually rectangular and lidded, made of cardboard, wood, or other stiff material; case; carton
  2. the contents or capacity of a box
  3. Chiefly Brit. a gift, esp. a Christmas present, in a box

  4. Etymology: < the toolbox under the seat

    the driver's seat on a coach
  5. a boxlike thing, opening, or compartment
  6. a small, enclosed group of seats, as in a theater, stadium, etc.
  7. a small booth or shelter for persons on outdoor duty a sentry box
  8. a small country house used by sportsmen a grouse box
  9. box stall
  10. a space or section for a certain person or group a press box, jury box
    1. a short newspaper article or advertisement enclosed in borders
    2. any of the enclosed sets of lines and spaces on a printed form
  12. ☆ Chiefly Brit., Informal television or a television set: used with the
  13. Slang the vulva or vagina: somewhat vulgar
  14. ☆ Baseball any of certain designated areas outlined on the playing field for the batter, catcher, and first-base and third-base coaches
  15. Mech. a protective casing for a part a journal box

Etymology: ME & OE, a container, box < VL buxis < L buxus, boxwood < Gr pyxos

transitive verb

  1. to provide with a box
  2. to put into a box, etc., as for storage or shipment
  3. to boxhaul

adjective

  1. shaped or made like a box
  2. packaged in a box

Related Forms:

box Idioms

box in

  1. box up (sense )
  2. to block and thus prevent (another racer) from getting ahead

box out

Basketball to block (an opponent) so as to prevent that player from getting a rebound

box the compass

  1. to name the thirty-two points of the compass in order: compasses were kept in boxes
  2. to make a complete circuit, returning to the starting point

box up

  1. to keep in; surround or confine
  2. ☆ to encase with sheathing boards, or laths

in a box

Informal in difficulty or a dilemma

outside (of) the box

Informal in a fresh, inventive, unconventional way
box2 definition

box (bäks)

noun

a blow struck with the hand or fist, esp. on the ear or the side of the head

Etymology: ME < ?

transitive verb

  1. to strike with such a blow
  2. to engage in a boxing match with

intransitive verb

to fight with the fists; engage in boxing
box3 definition

box (bäks)

noun

  1. any of a genus (Buxus) of evergreen shrubs or small trees of the box family with small, leathery leaves: some species are used as hedge plants or shaped as garden ornaments
  2. boxwood (sense )

Etymology: ME & OE < L buxus < Gr pyxos

adjective

designating a family (Buxaceae, order Euphorbiales) of dicotyledonous evergreen shrubs and trees, including pachysandra

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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