box

/bɑks/

/bɒks/

Other forms: boxes; boxing; boxed

A box is a container with a flat bottom. You might get a box in the mail, open it up, and find several boxes of cookies inside.

A box of crayons or a box of cereal open at the top and are rectangular. A flat, two-dimensional box is one you draw or fill in on a form or test: "Check the box that best describes the word's meaning." When box is used as a verb, it means "put in a box," but also "hit or spar with fists."

Definitions of box

1. noun

   a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
   “he rummaged through a box of spare parts”

   types:

   ballot box

   a box where voters deposit their ballots

   bandbox

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

   carton

   a box made of cardboard; opens by flaps on top

   casket, jewel casket

   small and often ornate box for holding jewels or other valuables

   cereal box

   a paper box in which breakfast cereals are sold

   chest

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

   cigar box

   a box for holding cigars

   casket, coffin

   box in which a corpse is buried or cremated

   crate

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

   flat

   a shallow box in which seedlings are started

   hod

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

   letter box, mailbox

   a private box for delivery of mail

   matchbox

   a box for holding matches

   paintbox

   a box containing a collection of cubes or tubes of artists' paint

   pencil box, pencil case

   a box for holding pencils

   play-box, playbox

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

   alms box, mite box, poor box

   box for collecting alms, especially one in a church

   pyxis

   a small box used by ancient Greeks to hold medicines

   shadow box

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

   shoebox

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

   snuffbox

   a small ornamental box for carrying snuff in your pocket

   deedbox, strongbox

   a strongly made box for holding money or valuables; can be locked

   tinderbox

   a box for holding tinder

   tuck box

   a box for storing eatables (especially at boarding school)

   window box

   a long narrow box for growing plants on a windowsill

   bier

   a coffin along with its stand

   ammunition chest, caisson

   a chest to hold ammunition

   cashbox, money box, till

   a strongbox for holding cash

   cedar chest

   a chest made of cedar

   coffer

   a chest especially for storing valuables

   hope chest, wedding chest

   chest for storage of clothing (trousseau) and household goods in anticipation of marriage

   packing box, packing case

   a large crate in which goods are packed for shipment or storage

   pix, pix chest, pyx, pyx chest

   a chest in which coins from the mint are held to await assay

   safe

   strongbox where valuables can be safely kept

   deposit box, lockbox, safe-deposit, safe-deposit box, safety deposit box, safety-deposit

   a fireproof metal strongbox (usually in a bank) for storing valuables

   sarcophagus

   a stone coffin (usually bearing sculpture or inscriptions)

   sea chest

   a sailor's storage chest for personal property

   six pack, six-pack, sixpack

   a carton containing six bottles or cans

   soapbox

   a crate for packing soap

   tea chest

   chest for storing or transporting tea

   tool cabinet, tool case, tool chest, toolbox

   a box or chest or cabinet for holding hand tools

   toy box, toy chest

   chest for storage of toys

   treasure chest

   a chest filled with valuables

   type 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)
2. noun

   the quantity contained in a box
   “he gave her a box of chocolates”

   synonyms: boxful

   type of:

   containerful

   the quantity that a container will hold
3. noun

   separate partitioned area in a public place for a few people
   “the sentry stayed in his box to avoid the cold”

   types:

   jury box

   an enclosure within a courtroom for the jury

   press box

   box reserved for reporters (as at a sports event)

   witness box, witness stand

   a box enclosure for a witness when testifying

   type of:

   compartment

   a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area
4. noun

   private area in a theater or grandstand where a small group can watch the performance
   “the royal box was empty”

   synonyms: loge

   types:

   skybox

   an elevated box for viewing events at a sports stadium

   type of:

   compartment

   a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area
5. noun

   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's box”

   types:

   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

   type of:

   area

   a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function
6. noun

   the driver's seat on a coach
   “an armed guard sat in the box with the driver”

   synonyms: box seat

   type of:

   seat

   furniture that is designed for sitting on
7. noun

   a rectangular drawing
   “the flowchart contained many boxes”

   type of:

   rectangle

   a parallelogram with four right angles
8. verb

   put into a box
   “box the gift, please”

   synonyms: package

   antonyms:

   unbox

   remove from a box

   type of:

   case, encase, incase

   enclose in, or as if in, a case
9. noun

   a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible
   synonyms: corner

   type of:

   morass, plight, predicament, quagmire, quandary

   a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
10. noun

    evergreen shrubs or small trees
    synonyms: boxwood

    types:

    Buxus sempervirens, European box, common box

    large slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with multiple stems; extensively used for hedges or borders and topiary figures

    type of:

    bush, shrub

    a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
11. noun

    a blow with the hand (usually on the ear)
    “I gave him a good box on the ear”

    type of:

    blow, buffet

    a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
12. verb

    hit with the fist
    “I'll box your ears!”

    type of:

    hit

    deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument
13. verb

    engage in a boxing match
    types:

    spar

    box lightly

    prizefight

    box for a prize or money

    shadowbox

    go through boxing motions without an opponent

    type of:

    contend, fight, struggle

    be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight