box Hear it!

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

box¹ Related Forms

box′·like′ adjective

box¹ 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

box Synonyms

box

n.

carton, crate, case, receptacle; see case 7.

in a box*

in difficulty, in a predicament, at an impasse, in a fix*; see in trouble 1 at trouble.

box Synonyms

box

v.

  1. To enclose in a box

    pack, confine, package, crate; see pack 2, wrap 2.

  2. To fight for sport

    spar, punch, slug, hit, cuff, fight, cross gloves*, mix punches*, scrap*, swap punches*, duke*.

box Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • tick: The last thing they want is to tick a box.
  • bound: Since this is not a geometric operation, the bounding box does not change.
  • check: Check the box next to ' Use Windows colors ' , allowing you access to change the colors yourself.
  • nest: Guy Merchant, a pigeon expert, has been placing new nesting boxes in the town.

Preposition: at

bottom: Note the 2 tick boxes at the bottom of the panel, under the heading " Delivery " .

Adjective modifier

  • set-top: Will the Amiga be turned into a set-top box?
  • wooden: There are many different types of boxes including beautiful sterling silver boxes, a traditional carved wooden box or pretty cardboard boxes.
  • black: The second black box was recovered the next day despite being buried in sediment without any traces being visible on the seabed.
  • red: The bottom row above the red boxes contains a key for every file in the directory: these are the leaf nodes.
  • pop-up: A pop-up selection box is displayed showing all possible matching names.
  • rectangular: Noticed some one carrying a small rectangular box, strapped in his shoulder.

Modifies a noun

  • office: Box office: the place where you buy tickets for the theater or cinema.
  • pew: The interior had oak box pews, the best of which were subsequently reused at Llanerch Panna Hall.

Noun used with modifier

  • dialog: In the Options dialog box, click the File Type tab.
  • dialog: You'll then see a dialog box that allows you to select the items you want in Details view.
  • cardboard: The cardboard boxes can be recycled or added to your compost heap.
  • ballot: In the end the BNP is only going to be defeated at the ballot box, not by banning them.
  • tick: Note the 2 tick boxes at the bottom of the panel, under the heading " Delivery " .
  • search: You can also use the search box provided, by simply typing in the product you are looking for.

Preposition: of

chocolate: The prize for the evening was a box of chocolates, which Mary promptly handed out to everyone.

Browse dictionary entries near box

  1. ‹ bowyer
  2. ‹ bowwow
  3. ‹ bowstring hemp
  4. ‹ bowstring
  5. ‹ bowsprit
  6. ‹ bowshot
  7. ‹ bowman
  8. ‹ bowls
  9. ‹ bowling green
  10. ‹ bowling alley
  1. box calf ›
  2. box camera ›
  3. box coat ›
  4. box elder ›
  5. box in or up ›
  6. box kite ›
  7. box lunch ›
  8. box office ›
  9. box pleat ›
  10. box score ›