pack
pack (pak)
noun
- a large bundle of things wrapped or tied up for carrying, as on the back of a man or animal; load; burden
- a container in which something may be stored compactly parachute pack
- a number of similar or related persons or things; specif.,
- a group or collection a pack of lies
- a package of a standard number a pack of cigarettes
- film pack
- a set of playing cards; deck
- a set of hunting hounds
- a number of wild animals living and hunting together
- a united group; gang; set
- ice pack
- treatment by wrapping a patient in blankets or sheets that are wet or dry and hot or cold
- the blankets or sheets used
- any of various cosmetic pastes applied to the skin and left to dry mudpack
- the amount of food put in cans, etc. in a season or year
- a method of packing or canning cold pack
Etymology: ME pakke < MDu pak < MFl pac: term carried throughout Europe via the Low Countries' wool trade (as in Fr pacque, It pacco, Ir pac, ML paccus)
transitive verb
- to make a pack, or bundle, of
- to put together compactly in a box, trunk, etc. for carrying or storing
- to fill (a box, bag, trunk, etc.) for carrying or storing
- to put (food) in (cans, boxes, etc.) for preservation or sale
- to fill closely; crowd; cram a hall packed with people
- to crowd or press (people) together
- to fill in or surround tightly for protection, prevention of leaks, etc. to pack valves
- to press together firmly packed earth
- to load (an animal) with a pack
- to carry (goods, equipment, etc.) in or as in a pack: said of an animal
- to treat with a pack ()
- to send (off), usually in haste to pack a boy off to school
- ☆ Slang to wear or carry (a gun, etc.), esp. habitually
- Slang
- to deliver or be able to deliver (a blow, punch, etc.) with force
- to provide or contain a play that packs a message
Etymology: ME pakken
intransitive verb
- to make up packs
- to put one's clothes, belongings, etc. into luggage for a trip an hour in which to pack
- to press, crowd, or throng together in a small space
- to admit of being folded compactly, put in a container, etc. a suit that packs well
- ☆ to settle into a compact or solid mass
- to go away in haste: sometimes with off
adjective
- used in packing
- suitable for packing
- formed in a pack or packs
- used for carrying packs, loads, etc. a pack animal
Related Forms:
- packable pack′·able adjective
pack it in
send packing
pack (pak)
pack (pak)
adjective
Etymology: prob. altered < pact, ult. < L pactus: see pact
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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