I. pack 1 S2 W3 /pæk/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ pack , ↑ package , ↑ packaging , ↑ packet , ↑ packing , ↑ packer ; verb : ↑ pack ≠ ↑ unpack , ↑ package ; adjective : ↑ packed ]
[ Sense 1-5, 7: Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ pack 2 ]
[ Sense 6: Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: pack 'to make a secret agreement' (16-17 centuries) , perhaps from pact ]
1 . 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. pack 2 S2 W3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ pack , ↑ package , ↑ packaging , ↑ packet , ↑ packing , ↑ packer ; verb : ↑ pack ≠ ↑ unpack , ↑ package ; adjective : ↑ packed ]
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Low German ; Origin: Dutch pak ]
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 card s 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