Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cover an opening with wooden boards: The action of securing a window, door, or other opening by nailing or attaching wooden boards over it, typically to prevent entry, protect from damage, or secure a property.

Usage

• This verb is used to describe a protective or security measure, often done in preparation for a severe weather event (like a storm or hurricane) or to secure an abandoned or vacant property.
• It is a separable phrasal verb (e.g., "board the windows up").
• The object (what is being covered) typically follows the verb or can be placed between "board" and "up."

Examples

• Verb:
  • We need to board up the storefront before the storm hits.
  • The old factory's doors and windows were boarded up years ago.
  • They boarded the broken window up temporarily.

Advanced Usage

• Passive Voice: Frequently used in the passive voice ("be boarded up") to describe the state of a building or opening.
  • The abandoned house on the corner has been boarded up for a decade.
• Gerund/Noun Form: "Boarding up" can function as a noun for the activity.
  • The boarding up of all the windows took several hours.

Variants and Related Words

• Board (verb): To get on a vehicle (e.g., a plane, train). This is a completely different meaning and usage.
• Boarding (noun): Material such as wood sold in boards; or the act of getting on a vehicle.
• Boarded (adjective): Describing something covered with boards (e.g., a boarded window).

Synonyms

• Seal up: To close something securely.
• Barricade: To block or defend with a barrier (can be broader than just using wood).
• Secure: To make something safe or firm (a more general term).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Board over: Similar to "board up," but can imply covering a horizontal surface like a hole in the floor.
  • They had to board over the old well for safety.

Related Idioms

• (To have) a boarded-up look: Describes a building or area that appears neglected, deserted, or closed down.
  • After the factory closed, the whole town took on a boarded-up look.

Verb

1. cover with wooden boards
   • board up windows before the hurricane