box

box

I

box¹ S1 W1 /bɒks $ bɑːks/ noun
1.  CONTAINER  [countable] a container for putting things in, especially one with four stiff straight sides
    cardboard/wooden/plastic etc box
    a strong cardboard box
    toolbox/shoebox/matchbox etc (=a box used for keeping tools etc in)
2.  AMOUNT (also boxful) [countable] the amount of something contained in a box
    box of
    a box of chocolates
3.  SHAPE  [countable]
  a. a small square on a page for people to write information in:
    Put an ‘X’ in the box if you would like to join our mailing list.
  b. a square or rectangle on a page where information is given or where an answer can be written:
    The box on the left gives a short history of the battle.
4.  IN A COURT/THEATRE ETC  [countable] a small area of a theatre or court that is separate from where other people are sitting:
    the jury box
5.  SMALL BUILDING  [countable] a small building or structure used for a particular purpose
   SYN  booth:
    a sentry box
    telephone box British English
6.  AT A POST OFFICE box 25/450 etc a box with a number in a post office, where you can have letters etc sent instead of to your own address
   SYN  PO Box
7.  SPORTS FIELD  [countable usually singular] a special area of a sports field that is marked by lines and used for a particular purpose:
    the penalty box
8.  PROTECTION  [countable] British English a piece of plastic that a man wears over his sex organs to protect them when he is playing a sport, especially cricket
9.  TREE  [uncountable and countable] a small tree that keeps its leaves in winter and is often planted around the edge of a garden or field:
    a box hedge
10.  TELEVISION the box informal the television:
    What’s on the box tonight?
11. be out of your box British English informal to be very drunk or have taken an illegal drug
⇨ black box
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ types of box
   ▪ a cardboard/wooden/plastic box We packed all our things into big cardboard boxes.
   ▪ a storage box (=for storing things in) Plastic storage boxes are useful for putting things in the attic.
   ▪ a toolbox The hammer’s in the tool box.
   ▪ a shoebox (=that you buy shoes in) She used to keep photographs in old shoe boxes.
   ▪ a sandwich/lunch box Most of the kids bring lunch boxes to school.
   ▪ a jewellery box British English, a jewelry box American English A jewellery box had gone missing.
   ▪ a money box (=that children save money in) How much have you got in your money box?
   ▪ a cash box (=for keeping a supply of money in, for example in a shop) Thieves stole £100 from a cash box at the school.
■ phrases
   ▪ a pile/stack of boxes There was a pile of boxes in the street outside the house.

II

box² verb1. [intransitive and transitive] to fight someone as a sport by hitting them with your closed hands inside big leather gloves
2. (also box up) [transitive] to put things in boxes:
    Help me box up the Christmas tree lights. ⇨ boxed
3. [transitive] to draw a box around something on a page
4. box sb’s ears old-fashioned to hit someone on the side of their head
     
box somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb
  1. to surround someone or something so that they are unable to move freely:
    Someone had parked right behind them, boxing them in.
  2. feel boxed in
  a. to feel that you cannot do what you want to do because a person or situation is limiting you:
    Married for only a year, Connie already felt boxed in.
  b. to feel that you cannot move freely, because you are in a small space
box something ↔ off phrasal verb
  to separate a particular area from a larger one by putting walls around it:
    We’re going to box off that corner to get extra storage space.