I. ˈbäks noun
( plural box or boxes )
Etymology: Middle English box, from Old English, from Latin buxus, from Greek pyxos
1. : an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Buxus ; especially : a widely cultivated typically large shrub ( B. sempervirens ) that is extensively used for hedges, borders, and topiary figures because of its slow growth and compact habit — see boxwood
2. Australia
a. : any of several trees of the genera Alyxia, Eucalyptus, Tristania, and Murraya which have timber resembling boxwood
b. : native box
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin buxis, from Greek pyxis, from pyxos boxtree
1.
a. : a rigid typically rectangular receptacle often with a lid or cover in which something nonliquid is kept or carried
shoe box
money box
take along a box lunch
b. : something constructed of a flat bottom and four upright solid sides (as the carrying part of a wagon)
a box of growing seedlings
playing in the sand box
the box of a pickup truck
: frame , flask 2
c. : the contents of a box as a measure of quantity
5 cents a box
d. : a closed receptacle to hold contributions (as of money, letters, ballots)
e. Britain : the money contained in a box : fund
f. : the driver's seat on a carriage or coach
g. slang : guitar , banjo , fiddle
2. Britain : a gift (as at Christmas) in a box
have you given the postman his box
— see boxing day
3.
a. in a theater : a space with chairs enclosed by partitions except toward the stage
the royal box
also : the occupants of such a space
a favorite of the boxes
b. : a group of spectator seats in a grandstand enclosed by railings
c. : a railed or partitioned enclosure provided for the jury or for witnesses in a courtroom
d. : a space partitioned off in a tavern or public eating house : booth
e. : box stall ; also : horse box
4.
a. : a closed case or container for storing or shipping merchandise or belongings
b. Britain : trunk
5.
a. : a boxlike protective covering, housing, or mechanical part (as for a bearing or bushing)
gear box
journal box
b. : an apparatus (as for sending a signal or fire alarm) with its enclosing case
police box
c. : the receptacle for a shuttle at the end of a loom lay
6. : a square or oblong division or compartment: as
a. : any of the compartments in a type case
b. : a cell or pigeonhole in a wall or rack for holding mail : post-office box
7. : a square or oblong hollow space or recess: as
a. : a recess cut into a tree to collect sap or resin
b. : the part of a window frame for sash windows in which the weight to counterpoise the sash moves up and down
c. : a recess in a window trim into which the shutters may fold
d. : a socket on a doorjamb for the bolt
e. : the portion of a gemstone setting that surrounds the precious stone ; also : a style of such setting
8.
a. : a small simple sheltering or enclosing structure (as for a sentry or a watchman)
b. chiefly Britain : a simple cabin or cottage
a shooting box
c. : sinkbox
d. Britain : telephone booth
9.
a. : printed matter set off by being enclosed or partly enclosed by rules or white space ; also : the rules or white space enclosing such matter
b. : a hollow rectangle in which a check mark is to be made
please check the box that applies to you
c. : a single unit of a comic strip
d. : line 12b
e. or box step : a combination of ballroom dance steps describing a rectangle on the floor
10.
a. baseball
(1) : the space where the pitcher stands formerly outlined with rectangular lines but now marked only by the pitcher's plate
(2) : a space on either side of the home plate within which the batter must stand while batting
(3) : either of the rectangular spaces 15 feet from the diamond and opposite first base and third base respectively within which the coaches are required to stand
(4) : a triangular space behind the home plate in which the catcher must take his stand before every pitch — see baseball illustration
b. : gully 4
11.
a. : boarded leather
b. : box calf
12. : a difficult situation : tight corner : fix , pickle
I must take some blame on myself for getting into this box — Walter H. Page
13. : a case that holds a pack of cards so that they may be dealt one by one in the game of faro — called also dealing box
14. : vulva — usually considered vulgar
•
- in the box
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
1.
a. obsolete : cup 1
b. : to cut a hole into (a tree) to collect sap or resin
2.
a. : to furnish (as a wheel hub) with a box
b. Britain : to give a Christmas box to
3. : to enclose in or as if in a box
boxed cigars
a boxed newspaper story
: stow — often with up
boxed up and put away
4. : boxhaul
5. : to enclose with boarding or lathing so as to bring to a required form — usually used with out or up
6. English & Scots law : to file (a document) with a court of law
7. Australia : to mix up : confuse , befuddle — orig. used of sheep; often used with up
8. : to mix (paint, varnish) by pouring back and forth between two containers
9. : to hem in (an opponent or a competitor) — usually used with in, out, or up
boxed out the opposing tackle
boxed in by a horse to his right
10. : to stack (ceramic ware) in a kiln
11. : to bet on (a specified number to win) in certain games and lotteries ; specifically : to bet on each of the 6 permutations of (a 3-digit number) in the numbers game
•
- box the compass
- box the heart
IV. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English
: a blow with the fist : buffet ; specifically : a cuff on the ear
V. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : to hit with the hand or fist
b. : to slap smartly in the region of (the ears)
boxed his ears
2. : to engage in boxing with (a person)
intransitive verb
: to fight with the fists : engage in boxing
Synonyms: see strike
VI. noun
1. : the female genitalia — usually considered vulgar
2.
a. : television ; especially : a television set
b. : a usually self-contained piece of electronic equipment
c. : boom box herein
3. : a house or office building resembling a box especially in shape