BOX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does box mean? 

• BOX (noun)
  The noun BOX has 10 senses:

1. a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

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

3. the quantity contained in a box

4. a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible

5. a rectangular drawing

6. evergreen shrubs or small trees

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

8. the driver's seat on a coach

9. separate partitioned area in a public place for a few people

10. a blow with the hand (usually on the ear)

  Familiarity information: BOX used as a noun is familiar.

• BOX (verb)
  The verb BOX has 3 senses:

1. put into a box

2. hit with the fist

3. engage in a boxing match

  Familiarity information: BOX used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BOX (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he rummaged through a box of spare parts

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

container (any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another))

Meronyms (parts of "box"):

lid (a movable top or cover (hinged or separate) for closing the opening at the top of a box, chest, jar, pan, etc.)

base (a flat bottom on which something is intended to sit)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

bandbox (a light cylindrical box for holding light articles of attire (especially hats))

window box (a long narrow box for growing plants on a windowsill)

tuck box (a box for storing eatables (especially at boarding school))

tinderbox (a box for holding tinder)

deedbox; strongbox (a strongly made box for holding money or valuables; can be locked)

snuffbox (a small ornamental box for carrying snuff in your pocket)

shoebox (an oblong rectangular (usually cardboard) box designed to hold a pair of shoes)

shadow box (a shallow rectangular box with a transparent front used to protect and display small items (jewelry, coins, etc.))

pyxis (a small box used by ancient Greeks to hold medicines)

alms box; mite box; poor box (box for collecting alms, especially one in a church)

play-box; playbox (a box for a child's toys and personal things (especially at a boarding school))

pencil box; pencil case (a box for holding pencils)

paintbox (a box containing a collection of cubes or tubes of artists' paint)

letter box; mailbox (a private box for delivery of mail)

hod (an open box attached to a long pole handle; bricks or mortar are carried on the shoulder)

flat (a shallow box in which seedlings are started)

crate (a rugged box (usually made of wood); used for shipping)

casket; coffin (box in which a corpse is buried or cremated)

cigar box (a box for holding cigars)

chest (box with a lid; used for storage; usually large and sturdy)

cereal box (a paper box in which breakfast cereals are sold)

casket; jewel casket (small and often ornate box for holding jewels or other valuables)

carton (a box made of cardboard; opens by flaps on top)

ballot box (a box where voters deposit their ballots)

matchbox (a box for holding matches)

Derivation:

box (put into a box)

boxy (resembling a box in rectangularity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

box; loge

Context example:

the royal box was empty

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

compartment (a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area)

Meronyms (parts of "box"):

box seat (a special seat in a theater or grandstand box)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

skybox (an elevated box for viewing events at a sports stadium)

Holonyms ("box" is a part of...):

balcony (an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The quantity contained in a box

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

box; boxful

Context example:

he gave her a box of chocolates

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

containerful (the quantity that a container will hold)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

box; corner

Context example:

his lying got him into a tight corner

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

plight; predicament; quandary (a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A rectangular drawing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Context example:

the flowchart contained many boxes

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

rectangle (a parallelogram with four right angles)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Evergreen shrubs or small trees

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

box; boxwood

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

bush; shrub (a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems)

Meronyms (substance of "box"):

boxwood; Turkish boxwood (very hard tough close-grained light yellow wood of the box (particularly the common box); used in delicate woodwork: musical instruments and inlays and engraving blocks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

Buxus sempervirens; common box; European box (large slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with multiple stems; extensively used for hedges or borders and topiary figures)

Holonyms ("box" is a member of...):

Buxus; genus Buxus (type genus of the Buxaceae)

Sense 7

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the umpire warned the batter to stay in the batter's box

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

area (a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

batter's box (an area on a baseball diamond (on either side of home plate) marked by lines within which the batter must stand when at bat)

Holonyms ("box" is a part of...):

ball field; baseball field; diamond (the baseball playing field)

Sense 8

Meaning:

The driver's seat on a coach

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

box; box seat

Context example:

an armed guard sat in the box with the driver

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

seat (furniture that is designed for sitting on)

Holonyms ("box" is a part of...):

coach; coach-and-four; four-in-hand (a carriage pulled by four horses with one driver)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Separate partitioned area in a public place for a few people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the sentry stayed in his box to avoid the cold

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

compartment (a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

jury box (an enclosure within a courtroom for the jury)

witness box; witness stand (a box enclosure for a witness when testifying)

press box (box reserved for reporters (as at a sports event))

Sense 10

Meaning:

A blow with the hand (usually on the ear)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

I gave him a good box on the ear

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

blow (a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon)

Derivation:

box (engage in a boxing match)

box (hit with the fist)

• BOX (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put into a box

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

box; package

Context example:

box the gift, please

Hypernyms (to "box" is one way to...):

case; encase; incase (enclose in, or as if in, a case)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They box the goods

Antonym:

unbox (remove from a box)

Derivation:

box (a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid)

boxer (a workman employed to pack things into containers)

boxing (the enclosure of something in a package or box)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hit with the fist

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

I'll box your ears!

Hypernyms (to "box" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to box his opponent

Derivation:

box (a blow with the hand (usually on the ear))

boxer (someone who fights with his fists for sport)

boxing (fighting with the fists)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Engage in a boxing match

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "box" is one way to...):

contend; fight; struggle (be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "box"):

spar (box lightly)

prizefight (box for a prize or money)

shadowbox (go through boxing motions without an opponent)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue box
Sam cannot box Sue

Derivation:

box (a blow with the hand (usually on the ear))

boxer (someone who fights with his fists for sport)

boxing (fighting with the fists)

 Context examples 

Besides, the tips of two of her fingers had been left in the cutting machine at the paper-box factory the preceding winter.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

‘These are coins of Charles the First,’ said he, holding out the few which had been in the box; ‘you see we were right in fixing our date for the Ritual.’

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He opened the big box, and Dorothy saw that it was filled with spectacles of every size and shape.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Specifically, Mars will be in the divine-for-Taurus earth sign of Capricorn, touching off other planets in that house like firecrackers in a box.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“Go to him again,” said her mother, “and if he does not answer, give him a box on the ear.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

They alighted out of the coach near a small foot-path in a field, and Glumdalclitch setting down my travelling box, I went out of it to walk.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“Come,” cried the inspector, laughing; “it’s a very pretty diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do you give your casting vote to?”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I left it with my cigarette-box and my stick, and I walked along the pathway, Moriarty still at my heels.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He catch many small birds. But he does not eat the birds. He takes only the skins and puts them away in boxes.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

“Any spacecraft that lands in regions of granular material on Titan is going to have a tough time staying clean. Think of putting a cat in a box of packing peanuts.”

('Electric Sands' Cover Titan, VOA News)