1 box
/ˈbɑːks/
noun
plural
boxes
1 box
/ˈbɑːks/
noun
plural
boxes
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOX
1
[count]
a
:
a container that is made of a hard material (such as wood, metal, or cardboard) and that usually has four straight sides
-
a cardboard box
-
She kept the letters in an old box.
-
empty pizza boxes
-
the cat's litter box
-
a box of tissues/matches/cigars/tools
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b
:
the amount of something inside a box
-
I ate an entire box of chocolates.
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3
a
[count]
:
a piece of electronic equipment that is contained inside a box
-
Where's the system's control box?
-
The cable box is on top of the TV.
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b
the box
British, informal
:
a television
-
Let's turn on the box and watch the game.
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4
[count]
:
a small area or section of seats that is separated from other seats inside a theater, stadium, or courtroom
-
She's sitting in the jury box.
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— see picture at theater; see also box seat, luxury box, press box, skybox
5
[count]
:
a closed shape with four sides on a piece of paper, a Web page, etc.: such as
a
:
a square in which you make a mark (such as an X) to show that you choose something
-
If you are over 18 years old, check this box.
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Put an X in the correct/appropriate box.
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b
:
a square or rectangle around special information in a document, book, etc.
-
For more information, see box A17.
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6
[count]
:
an area on a sports field that is used for a special purpose
especially
:
one of six areas on a baseball field that are marked by lines and that show where the batter, pitcher, catcher, and coaches stand
-
He stepped out of the batter's box to take a practice swing.
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— see also penalty box
7
8
[count]
chiefly British
:
an area where two streets cross that is marked by painted lines to show where cars are not allowed to stop but can only pass through
-
The sign at the intersection said “Don't Block the Box.”
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— called also (British) box junction
think outside the box
◊ If you think outside the box, your thoughts are not limited or controlled by rules or tradition, and you have ideas that are creative and unusual. To solve this puzzle, you'll have to think outside the box. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
— compare 4box
2 box
/ˈbɑːks/
verb
boxes;
boxed;
boxing
2 box
/ˈbɑːks/
verb
boxes;
boxed;
boxing
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOX
[+ object]
:
to put (something) in a box
-
Can you box this for me? It's a gift.
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The CDs are sold as a boxed set. [=a set of things that are sold together in a box]
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— often + up
-
She was told to box up her things and go home.
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box in
[phrasal verb]
box (someone or something) in
:
to surround (someone or something) and make movement difficult
-
The other bicyclists boxed her in and she couldn't move ahead.
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— usually used as (be) boxed in
-
We were boxed in and couldn't get out of our parking space. [=other cars were parked so close to our car that we could not move out of our parking space]
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— sometimes used figuratively
-
I feel boxed in by all these rules.
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— compare 3box
3 box
/ˈbɑks/
verb
boxes;
boxed;
boxing
3 box
/ˈbɑks/
verb
boxes;
boxed;
boxing
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOX
:
to participate in the sport of boxing
:
to fight with the hands often while wearing very thick gloves
[no object]
-
His father taught him how to box when he was 12.
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[+ object]
-
Who did he box in his first fight?
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— see also kickboxing, shadowbox
box someone's ears
old-fashioned
:
to hit someone on the sides of the head or on the ears
-
His mother threatened to box his ears if he misbehaved again.
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— compare 2box
