pack ‧ et S2 /ˈpækət, ˈpækɪt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ pack , ↑ package , ↑ packaging , ↑ packet , ↑ packing , ↑ packer ; verb : ↑ pack ≠ ↑ unpack , ↑ package ; adjective : ↑ packed ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Anglo-French ; Origin: pacquet , from pack ]
1 .
a) British English a container made of paper, plastic, or ↑ cardboard that something is sold in
packet of
a packet of envelopes
a packet of cigarettes
a cereal packet
b) American English a small flat paper or plastic container that a liquid or powder is sold in SYN sachet British English :
packets of ketchup and mustard
2 . especially British English a small flat package that is sent by post or delivered to someone:
Paul tore open the packet as soon as it arrived.
⇨ ↑ pay packet
3 . cost a packet British English informal to cost a lot of money:
I bet that car cost him a packet.
4 . technical a quantity of information that is sent as a single unit from one computer to another on a network or on the Internet