/ bæg; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
CONTAINER
1.
[ C ] (often in compounds) a container made of paper or plastic, that opens at the top, used especially in shops / stores :
a plastic / polythene / paper bag
a laundry / mail bag
a black plastic rubbish / garbage bag
2.
[ C ] a strong container made from cloth, plastic, leather, etc., usually with one or two handles, used to carry things in when shopping or travelling :
a shopping bag
a make-up bag
He's upstairs unpacking his bags.
She opened her bag (= her handbag ) and took out her comb.
—picture at golf
—see also airbag , beanbag , bumbag , goody bag , punchbag , sandbag , tea bag
AMOUNT
3.
[ C ] bag (of sth) the amount contained in a bag :
She ate a bag of chips.
—see also mixed bag , ragbag
4.
bags (of sth) [ U , pl. ] ( BrE , informal ) a large amount or a large number of sth :
Get in! There's bags of room.
UNDER EYES
5.
bags [ pl. ] dark circles or loose folds of skin under the eyes, as a result of getting old or lack of sleep
UNPLEASANT WOMAN
6.
[ C ] ( informal , especially BrE ) an insulting word for an unpleasant or bad-tempered older woman
—see also ratbag , scumbag , windbag
BIRDS / ANIMALS
7.
[ C , usually sing. ] all the birds, animals, etc. shot or caught on one occasion
HELP NOTE : There are many other compounds ending in bag . You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
•
IDIOMS
- bag and baggage
- a bag of bones
- be in the bag
- leave sb holding the bag
- (not) sb's bag
—more at cat , nerve noun , pack verb , trick noun
■ verb
( -gg- ) [ vn ]
PUT INTO BAGS
1.
bag sth (up) to put sth into bags :
The fruit is washed, sorted and bagged at the farm.
CATCH ANIMAL
2.
( informal ) to catch or kill an animal
IN SPORT
3.
( informal ) to score a goal, point, etc. :
Dublin bagged two goals in last night's win.
CLAIM STH
4.
( BrE , informal ) to claim sth as yours before sb else claims it; to take sth before sb else can get it :
Sally had managed to bag the two best seats.
Quick, bag that table over there!
5.
( AustralE , NZE , informal ) to criticize sb/sth
•
IDIOMS
- bags (I) ...
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : perhaps from Old Norse baggi .