ENGLISH
REFERENCE

billboard

n. · v.
US //ˈbɪɫˌbɔɹd// UK //bˈɪlbɔːd// bill·board
  1. 1 advertising sign (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a very large board used for showing advertisements outdoors, especially next to a road.

    a large outdoor board for displaying advertisements, typically situated alongside busy roads or on the sides of buildings.

    Example

    We saw a huge billboard for the new movie while driving on the highway.

    Example

    The marketing department allocated a significant portion of the budget to digital billboards in the city centre to ensure maximum visibility during the product launch.

    Usage

    In British English, 'hoarding' is more common for the same object.
  2. 2 TV credits/sponsors (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Theatre

    a short list of sponsors or credits shown at the start or end of a TV show.

    a brief announcement or visual identification of a program's sponsor or credits, appearing at the beginning or end of a broadcast.

    Example

    The show's billboard thanked the local bank for supporting the broadcast.

    Example

    The network's policy requires a five-second billboard for each major sponsor before the opening sequence of any prime-time drama.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a specialized industry term; most viewers would simply call these 'credits' or 'sponsorship mentions'.
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  1. 3 nautical anchor rest (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a thick piece of wood on a ship where the heavy part of the anchor rests.

    a thick plank or iron-plated structure on the bow of a vessel designed to support the fluke of an anchor.

    Example

    The sailors secured the heavy anchor onto the billboard before the storm hit.

    Example

    The ship's carpenter was tasked with reinforcing the billboard to prevent the heavy anchor fluke from damaging the hull during rough seas.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly specific maritime term unlikely to be encountered outside of historical naval literature or technical manuals.

  2. 4 to advertise (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to advertise a product or person on a large outdoor sign.

    to promote or advertise something through the use of billboards.

    Example

    The studio decided to billboard the lead actor's face all over the city.

    Example

    The campaign strategy was to billboard the new fragrance across every major transit hub in the metropolitan area.

    Usage

    Transitive verb; requires a direct object.
Origin

From bill + board.

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