■ noun
1》 a long, thin, flat piece of wood used for floors or other building purposes.
↘( the ~s ) informal the stage of a theatre.
2》 a thin, flat rectangular piece of stiff material, e.g. a chopping ~ or notice~.
↘the piece of equipment on which one stands in surfing, skate~ing, etc.
3》 [treated as sing. or plural ] the decision-making body of an organization.
4》 the provision of regular meals in return for payment or services.
↘ archaic a table set for a meal.
5》 Sailing a distance covered by a vessel in a single tack.
■ verb
1》 get on or into (a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle).
↘( be ~ing ) (of an aircraft) be ready for passengers to get on.
2》 live in someone's house and receive meals in return for payment or services.
↘(of a pupil) live in school during term time in return for payment.
3》 ( ~ something up/over ) cover or seal a window or building with pieces of wood.
4》 [as adjective ~ed ] made of wooden ~s.
5》 ride on a snow~.
Phrases
go by the ~ (of a plan or principle) be abandoned, rejected, or ignored. [from naut. use meaning 'fall over~', ~ meaning the side of the ship.]
on ~ on or in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
take something on ~ informal fully consider or assimilate a new idea or situation.
tread the ~s informal appear on stage as an actor.
Derivatives
~ing noun
Origin
OE bord , of Gmc origin; reinforced in ME by OFr. bort 'edge, ship's side' and ON borth '~, table'.