pack Hear it!

pack¹ Definition

pack (pak)

noun

  1. a large bundle of things wrapped or tied up for carrying, as on the back of a man or animal; load; burden
  2. a container in which something may be stored compactly parachute pack
  3. a number of similar or related persons or things; specif.,
    1. a group or collection a pack of lies
    2. a package of a standard number a pack of cigarettes
    3. film pack
    4. a set of playing cards; deck
    5. a set of hunting hounds
    6. a number of wild animals living and hunting together
    7. a united group; gang; set
  4. ice pack
    1. treatment by wrapping a patient in blankets or sheets that are wet or dry and hot or cold
    2. the blankets or sheets used
  5. any of various cosmetic pastes applied to the skin and left to dry mudpack
    1. the amount of food put in cans, etc. in a season or year
    2. 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

  1. to make a pack, or bundle, of
    1. to put together compactly in a box, trunk, etc. for carrying or storing
    2. to fill (a box, bag, trunk, etc.) for carrying or storing
  2. to put (food) in (cans, boxes, etc.) for preservation or sale
    1. to fill closely; crowd; cram a hall packed with people
    2. to crowd or press (people) together
  3. to fill in or surround tightly for protection, prevention of leaks, etc. to pack valves
  4. to press together firmly packed earth
  5. to load (an animal) with a pack
  6. to carry (goods, equipment, etc.) in or as in a pack: said of an animal
  7. to treat with a pack ()
  8. to send (off), usually in haste to pack a boy off to school
  9. Slang to wear or carry (a gun, etc.), esp. habitually
  10. Slang
    1. to deliver or be able to deliver (a blow, punch, etc.) with force
    2. to provide or contain a play that packs a message

Etymology: ME pakken

intransitive verb

  1. to make up packs
  2. to put one's clothes, belongings, etc. into luggage for a trip an hour in which to pack
  3. to press, crowd, or throng together in a small space
  4. to admit of being folded compactly, put in a container, etc. a suit that packs well
  5. ☆ to settle into a compact or solid mass
  6. to go away in haste: sometimes with off

adjective

    1. used in packing
    2. suitable for packing
  1. formed in a pack or packs
  2. used for carrying packs, loads, etc. a pack animal

pack¹ Related Forms

pack·able adjective

pack¹ Idioms

pack it in

Slang to give up or stop trying, as in discouragement

send packing

to dismiss (a person) abruptly

pack² Definition

pack (pak)

transitive verb

to choose or arrange (a jury, court, etc.) in such a way as to get desired decisions, results, etc.

Etymology: < ? pact, but infl. by pack

pack³ Definition

pack (pak)

adjective

Scot. closely acquainted; intimate

Etymology: prob. altered < pact, ult. < L pactus: see pact

pack Synonyms

pack

n.

  1. A package

    package, box, packet; see package 1.

  2. Kit

    bundle, backpack, knapsack, duffel bag, bag, baggage, kit, gear, outfit, load, burden; see also bag 1, equipment.

  3. A group

    number, gang, mob; see crowd 1.

  4. A medical dressing

    application, hot pack, ice pack, cold pack, plaster, pledget, pad, sponge, tampon, compress, bandage, wet dressing; see also dressing 3.

  5. A set of cards

    deck, canasta deck, poker deck, rummy deck, bridge deck, pinochle deck, set, assortment; see also deck 2. See syn. study at package.

pack Synonyms

pack

v.

  1. To prepare for transportation

    prepare, gather, collect, (make) ready, get ready, put in (order), stow away, dispose, cinch, sock up, tie with a diamond hitch, tie, bind, brace, fasten.

    Antonyms undo*, untie*, take out. *

  2. To stow compactly

    stuff, squeeze, bind, compress, condense, arrange, ram, cram, jam, insert, press, contract, put away, pack in, thrust in, drive in, run in.

    Antonyms scatter*, loosen*, fluff up.

  3. To fill by entering; often used with ""in'' or ""out''

    crowd, throng, mob; see press 1, push 1.

  4. To transport by using pack animals; often used with ""in'' or ""out''

    carry, freight, journey, trek, backpack, haul around, go by muleback, take a pack train; see also carry 1.

pack Usage Examples

Object

  • punch: Can a trimmed-down Sainsbury Center for Mental Health still pack a punch?
  • jam: The room was jam packed with people at the free rave.
  • lunch: Serve vegetable sticks with dips, in packed lunches and as anytime snacks.

Converse of object

  • chase: Glasgow & NS finished on 66 points, 10 points clear of the chasing pack.
  • request: To order these products or request a free trial pack, just complete a short online form.

Adjective modifier

  • starter: The starter packs contain half the number of diapers needed for full time use, saving parents over £ 100.
  • rechargeable: The internal NiMH rechargeable battery pack means you can enjoy your Dualit radio anywhere in the home.
  • welcome: A welcome pack including wine awaits you upon arrival.
  • promotional: Plus, come along to pick up your one off promotional pack.

Modifies a noun

ice: An American explorer had theorized that a polar sea existed beyond the pack ice.

Noun used with modifier

  • battery: Battery packs are designed to provide a 3hr emergency backup, with a battery life of 4 years.
  • application: Request the ACS application pack via the on-line system.
  • expansion: I certainly would NOT recommend this expansion pack to anyone.
  • resource: A teacher's resource pack is to be provided to every primary school in the province.
  • blister: All the tablets are in blister packs with the name of the drug on the back of the blister packet.
  • fundraising: Alternative fundraising ideas can be found in NDCS's Diamond fundraising pack.

Adjective complement

full: John's Gospel in particular is packed full of pictorial language which Jesus uses to describe himself.

Preposition: in

carton: Soya milk is available fresh chilled and packed in UHT cartons.

Preposition: of

  • hound: It was a hunting lodge for the Duke of Cumberland with the pack of hounds kept on Dunstable.. .
  • cigarette: In some countries people tell us that guns are as easy to come by as a pack of cigarettes.