# board

/ˈbɔɹd/ (US) · /bˈɔːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/board
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. flat piece of material

noun · CEFR A2

a long, thin, flat piece of wood or other hard material used for building things.

For teachers: a relatively long, wide, and thin piece of timber or synthetic material used in construction or furniture-making.

- He used a long wooden board to fix the hole in the fence.
- The carpenter selected several oak boards, ensuring the grain patterns matched before he began constructing the tabletop.

### 2. governing group

noun · CEFR B1

a group of people who manage or control a company or organization.

For teachers: an official body of administrators or directors appointed to manage the affairs of an organization or institution.

- The board of directors met to discuss the company's future plans.
- The board voted unanimously to approve the merger, citing the potential for significant market expansion in the coming fiscal year.

### 3. surface for games or writing

noun · CEFR A2

a flat surface used for playing games like chess, or for writing on with chalk or markers.

For teachers: a flat surface marked for a specific purpose, such as a board game or a vertical surface for classroom instruction.

- The teacher wrote the homework instructions on the board at the front of the room.
- He carefully moved his knight across the board, anticipating his opponent's next defensive maneuver.

### 4. meals and lodging

noun · CEFR B2

the meals that are provided when you stay at a hotel or school.

For teachers: regular meals provided in return for payment or services, often paired with 'room'.

- The cost of the university hostel includes both room and board.
- The contract specified that the seasonal workers would receive a modest weekly wage in addition to full room and board.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'room and board'.

### 5. online forum

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a place on the internet where people can post messages and discuss topics.

For teachers: an online discussion site or message board where users can post and read digital content.

- I found a great tip for fixing my bike on an online message board.
- The community board became a hub for technical support, with experienced users helping newcomers troubleshoot software issues.

### 6. to enter a vehicle

verb · CEFR A2

to get onto a plane, ship, train, or bus.

For teachers: to enter or go onto a ship, aircraft, or other public vehicle. Transitive — takes a direct object.

- Passengers should be ready to board the plane in ten minutes.
- The commuters waited patiently behind the yellow line until the conductor gave the signal to board the train.

### 7. to live and eat

verb · CEFR B2

to pay to live in a house and have your meals provided there.

For teachers: to receive regular meals and lodging in return for payment. Often used as an intransitive verb.

- During the winter, the students board at the school instead of traveling home.
- She decided to board with a local family to improve her language skills through daily conversation at-home conversation.

## Examples

- The teacher writes the homework on the board.
- The company's board met yesterday to discuss the new budget and approve the hiring of a new director.
- After the storm, the shopkeeper used a thick wooden board to cover the broken window until a glazier could arrive to replace the glass.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.