box

/bɔks/

Thân thiện

A child carefully packs a small toy into a cardboard box.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A container: A rigid, typically rectangular container with sides and often a lid, used for storage or transportation.
   • A compartment or enclosed area: A separate, partitioned space for a specific purpose or person, such as in a theater, a sports field, or a sentry post.
   • A blow with the hand: A slap or punch, especially on the ear.
   • An evergreen shrub or small tree: A type of plant with small, dense leaves, often used for hedges.
   • A predicament: A difficult or restrictive situation.

2. Verb:

   • To pack in a container: To put something into a box.
   • To fight with the fists: To participate in the sport of boxing.
   • To hit with the hand: To strike someone, especially on the ear, with the open hand or fist.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Container):
  • She packed her books into a cardboard box.
  • He gave her a beautiful box of chocolates.
• Noun (Compartment):
  • We watched the play from a private box at the theater.
  • The baseball coach stood in the coach's box.
• Noun (Blow):
  • In the old story, the father threatened a box on the ear for misbehavior.
• Verb (To pack):
  • Please box these old clothes for donation.
• Verb (To fight):
  • The two athletes will box for the championship title.
• Verb (To hit):
  • The angry man threatened to box his son's ears.

Advanced Usage

• "to box someone in": To trap or restrict someone's freedom of movement or options.
  • The other drivers boxed him in, so he couldn't change lanes.
• "to think outside the box": To think creatively, unconventionally, or from a new perspective.
  • Solving this problem requires us to think outside the box.

Variants and Related Words

• Boxful (n): The amount that a box can hold.
  • He carried a boxful of tools.
• Boxing (n): The sport of fighting with the fists.
  • He has been training in boxing for years.
• Boxwood (n): The hard, fine-grained wood of the box tree.
  • The intricate carving was made from boxwood.

Synonyms

• Container: case, crate, carton, chest.
• Compartment: booth, cubicle, stall, enclosure.
• Predicament: dilemma, tight spot, corner, jam.
• To pack: package, crate, encase.
• To fight: spar, brawl, punch.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Box up: To pack things into boxes, often for storage or moving.
  • We need to box up the kitchen before the movers arrive.
• Box off: To separate or mark off an area into sections.
  • They boxed off a section of the room for the new project.

Related Idioms

• Pandora's box: A source of extensive but unforeseen troubles or complications.
  • The new policy opened a Pandora's box of legal issues.
• A box on the ear: An idiom for a slap on the side of the head.
  • He got a box on the ear for his cheeky remark.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a blow with the hand (usually on the ear)
   • I gave him a good box on the ear
2. separate partitioned area in a public place for a few people
   • the sentry stayed in his box to avoid the cold
3. the driver's seat on a coach
   • an armed guard sat in the box with the driver
4. 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
5. evergreen shrubs or small trees
6. a rectangular drawing
   • the flowchart contained many boxes
7. a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible
   • his lying got him into a tight corner
8. the quantity contained in a box
   • he gave her a box of chocolates
9. private area in a theater or grandstand where a small group can watch the performance
   • the royal box was empty
10. a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
    • he rummaged through a box of spare parts

Verb

1. engage in a boxing match
2. hit with the fist
   • I'll box your ears!
3. put into a box
   • box the gift, please

Từ đồng nghĩa

• box seat
• boxwood
• corner
• boxful
• loge
• package