Definition

1. Noun:

   • A flat, rigid piece of material: A long, thin, flat piece of wood or other hard material, often used in construction or manufacturing.
   • A surface for playing games or displaying information: A flat surface, often rectangular, used for playing games like chess or for posting notices.
   • A group of people who manage or direct an organization: A committee or group of people with official responsibility for an organization's management.
   • Daily meals provided, often with lodging: The provision of regular meals, typically as part of a paid arrangement like room and board.
   • The side of a ship: The side of a ship or boat.

2. Verb:

   • To get onto a vehicle or ship: To enter a vehicle such as a train, bus, airplane, or ship.
   • To provide or receive meals and lodging: To live in a place where meals are provided, or to provide such meals and lodging for someone.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He nailed a wooden board over the broken window. (He used a flat piece of wood to cover the window.)
  • Please check the information on the bulletin board. (Look at the notices displayed on the flat surface.)
  • The board of directors will meet next week. (The committee that manages the company will have a meeting.)
  • The rent includes room and board. (The payment covers both a place to live and daily meals.)
  • Passengers stood at the ship's board to wave goodbye. (People stood at the side of the ship.)

• Verb:

  • We will board the train at platform 3. (We will get on the train.)
  • Several students board at the school during the term. (Several students live and eat at the school.)

Advanced Usage

• "across the board": applying to all categories or members without exception.

  • The company announced a 5% salary increase across the board. (Every employee received the same 5% raise.)

• "on board": participating in or agreeing with a plan or idea; literally, on a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

  • We need to get everyone on board with the new strategy. (We need everyone to agree and participate.)
  • All passengers must be on board 15 minutes before departure. (All travelers must be inside the vehicle.)

• "to go by the board": to be abandoned, discarded, or lost.

  • Our careful plans went by the board when the storm hit. (Our plans were completely abandoned because of the storm.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blackboard (n): A dark surface, traditionally of slate, used in schools for writing on with chalk.

  • The teacher wrote the equation on the blackboard.

• Bulletin board (n): A board for posting public notices.

  • The event details are on the community bulletin board.

• Boardroom (n): A room where a board of directors meets.

  • The decision was made in the boardroom.

• Boarder (n): A person who pays to live and receive meals in someone's house.

  • The family has two boarders living with them.

• Boarding (n): The action of getting on a vehicle; also, the provision of food and lodging.

  • Boarding for flight BA123 will begin shortly. (The process of passengers getting on the plane.)
  • The cost includes boarding for the dog while we're away. (The cost includes a place for the dog to stay and be fed.)

Synonyms

• Plank (n): A long, flat piece of timber, thicker than a board.
• Panel (n): A flat section of a surface, door, or piece of furniture.
• Committee (n): A group of people appointed for a specific function.
• Embark (v): To go on board a ship or aircraft.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Board up: To cover a window or door with boards of wood.

  • They boarded up the shop after the fire. (They covered the openings with wooden boards.)

• Board out: To arrange for someone to live and eat somewhere else, typically for payment.

  • The school boards out its younger students with local families. (The school arranges for the students to live with families.)

Related Idioms

• Sweep the board: To win all the prizes or every available point in a competition.

  • The young swimmer swept the board, winning five gold medals.

• Take something on board: To fully consider or accept an idea or suggestion.

  • Thank you for your feedback; we will take your comments on board. (We will seriously consider your comments.)

Noun

1. a flat portable surface (usually rectangular) designed for board games
   • he got out the board and set up the pieces
2. a printed circuit that can be inserted into expansion slots in a computer to increase the computer's capabilities
3. electrical device consisting of a flat insulated surface that contains switches and dials and meters for controlling other electrical devices
   • he checked the instrument panel
   • suddenly the board lit up like a Christmas tree
4. a table at which meals are served
   • he helped her clear the dining table
   • a feast was spread upon the board
5. a vertical surface on which information can be displayed to public view
6. food or meals in general
   • she sets a fine table
   • room and board
7. a flat piece of material designed for a special purpose
   • he nailed boards across the windows
8. a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes
9. a committee having supervisory powers
   • the board has seven members

Verb

1. provide food and lodging (for)
   • The old lady is boarding three men
2. lodge and take meals (at)
3. live and take one's meals at or in
   • she rooms in an old boarding house
4. get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)