Link Centre Dictionary

box

UK/bɒks/ US/bɑks/ very common informal slang uk
noun (10) verb (3)

noun

1.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

  • “he rummaged through a box of spare parts”
2.

private area in a theater or grandstand where a small group can watch the performance

  • “the royal box was empty”
Synonyms
3.

the quantity contained in a box

  • “he gave her a box of chocolates”
Synonyms
4.

a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible

  • “his lying got him into a tight corner”
Synonyms
5.

a rectangular drawing

  • “the flowchart contained many boxes”
6.

evergreen shrubs or small trees

Synonyms
7.

any one of several designated areas on a ball field where the batter or catcher or coaches are positioned

  • “the umpire warned the batter to stay in the batter”
8.

the driver''s seat on a coach

  • “an armed guard sat in the box with the driver”
Synonyms
9.

separate partitioned area in a public place for a few people

  • “the sentry stayed in his box to avoid the cold”
10.

a blow with the hand (usually on the ear)

  • “I gave him a good box on the ear”

verb

1.

put into a box

  • “box the gift, please”
Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

hit with the fist

  • “I”
3.

Origin

From Middle English box (“container, box, cup”), from Old English box (“box, case”), from Proto-West Germanic *buhsā (“box”) from Late Latin buxis (“box”), Latin pyxis (“small box for medicines or toiletries”), of uncertain origin; compare Ancient Greek πυξίς (puxís, “box or tablet made of boxwood; box; cylinder”) and πύξος (púxos, “box tree; boxwood”).

Phrases

  • 18-yard box
  • a few spanners short of a tool box
  • About box
  • agony box
  • apple box
  • Armalite and the ballot box
  • ask box
  • Aussie box
  • bastard box Terms derived from box (noun, etymology 2)
  • beat boxing Terms derived from box (verb, etymology 1)
  • bonnet box Terms derived from box (noun, etymology 2)
  • box alder Terms derived from box (noun, etymology 2)

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.