pack

pack

I

pack¹ S2 W3 /pæk/ verb1.  CLOTHES  [I, T] (also pack up) to put things into cases, bags etc ready for a trip somewhere:
    I forgot to pack my razor.
    Have you finished packing yet?
    pack your things/belongings
    Kelly packed her things before breakfast.
    pack a bag/case
    You’d better pack your bags. We’re leaving in an hour.
    pack somebody something
    Shall I pack us a picnic?
2.  GOODS  [transitive] (also pack up) to put something into a box or other container, so that it can be moved, sold, or stored
    pack something in/into something
    Now wild mushrooms are available all year, packed in handy 25 g boxes.
3.  CROWD  [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to go in large numbers into a space, or to make people or animals do this, until the space is too full
    pack into/in/onto
    Fifty thousand fans packed into the stadium.
    The sheep had been packed into a truck and transported without food or water.
4.  PROTECT SOMETHING  [transitive] to cover or fill an object with soft material so that it does not get damaged
    pack in/with
    Glass must be packed in several layers of paper.
5.  SNOW/SOIL ETC to press snow, soil, sand etc down so that it becomes hard and firm
    pack something down
    Pack the soil down firmly.
6. pack your bags informal to leave a place and not return, especially because of a disagreement
7. pack a gun American English informal to carry a gun
8. pack a (hard/hefty/strong etc) punch (also pack a wallop) informal to have a very strong or impressive effect:
    The Spanish wine, with the flavour of honey, packed quite a punch.
⇨ send somebody packing at send(11)
     
pack something ↔ away phrasal verb
  to put something back in a box, case etc where it is usually kept:
    Christmas was over and the decorations packed away.
pack in phrasal verb
  1. pack something ↔ in (also pack something into something) to do a lot in a limited period of time, or fit a lot of information, ideas etc into a limited space:
    We packed a lot of sightseeing into two weeks.
    In an essay of 2,000 words, you can pack a lot in.
  2. pack somebody ↔ in informal if a film, play etc packs people in, it attracts large numbers to come and see it:
    Any film starring Tom Cruise always packs them in.
  3. pack something ↔ in British English informal to stop doing a job or activity that you are not enjoying:
    After one year, I packed in university.
    Sometimes I feel like packing it all in and going off travelling.
  4. pack it in British English spoken used to tell someone to stop doing something that is annoying you
  5. British English informal if a machine packs in, it stops working because there is something wrong with it
   SYN  pack up:
    Halfway to the airport, the engine packed in.
pack somebody/something off phrasal verb informal
  to send someone to stay somewhere for a period of time
    pack somebody/something off to
    My parents used to pack us off to camp every summer.
pack up phrasal verb
  1. to put things into cases, bags etc ready for a trip somewhere:
    Most of the holidaymakers had packed up and gone.
    pack something ↔ up
    I gave her a hand packing up her clothes and stuff.
  2. pack something ↔ up to put something into a box or other container, so that it can be moved, sold, or stored:
    Don’t worry. The removal men will pack everything up.
  3. informal to finish work at the end of the day:
    ‘What time do you pack up?’ ‘Oh, about six.’
  4. British English informal if a machine packs up, it stops working because there is something wrong with it
   SYN  pack in:
    The photocopier’s packed up again.
  5. pack something ↔ up British English informal to stop doing something, especially a job:
    He packed up his teaching job after only three months.

II

pack² S2 W3 noun [countable]1.  THINGS WRAPPED TOGETHER something wrapped in paper or packed in a box and then sent by post or taken somewhere
    pack of
    a pack of three T-shirts
    Send away for your free information pack today. ⇨ six-pack(1)
2.  SMALL CONTAINER especially American English a small container, usually made of paper, that something is sold in
   SYN  packet British English
    pack of
    a pack of cigarettes
    a 10 oz pack of frozen peas
3.  BAG especially British English a bag that you carry on your back, especially when climbing or walking, used to carry equipment, clothes etc
   SYN  rucksack British English, backpack
4.  CARDS (also pack of cards) a complete set of playing cards
   SYN  deck
5.  ANIMALS a group of wild animals that hunt together, or a group of dogs trained to hunt together:
    a wolf pack
    pack of
    a pack of hounds
6.  GROUP OF PEOPLE a group of the same type of people, especially a group who you do not approve of
    pack of
    A pack of reporters were waiting outside.
7. be leading the pack/be ahead of the pack to be more successful than the other people or companies you are competing against
8. pack of lies informal something you are told that is completely untrue:
    Don’t believe what it says in the paper – it’s a pack of lies.
9. Cub/Brownie pack a group of children who belong to a particular children’s organization ⇨ Cub Scout, brownie, Girl Scout
10.  ON A WOUND a thick soft piece of cloth that you press on a wound to stop the flow of blood
   SYN  compress ⇨ ice pack