# boarding

/ˈbɔɹdɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈɔːdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/boarding
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. getting on a vehicle

noun · CEFR B1

the act of getting onto a plane, ship, train, or bus.

For teachers: the process of passengers embarking on a public transport vehicle, particularly an aircraft or ship.

- Boarding will begin in twenty minutes at gate number five.
- The airline staff announced that boarding would be delayed by thirty minutes due to the late arrival of the incoming flight.

Usage: often used as a compound noun like 'boarding pass' or 'boarding gate'

### 2. living at school

noun · CEFR B2

living and eating at a school during the term instead of going home.

For teachers: the provision of accommodation and meals, typically in the context of a 'boarding school' where students reside on campus.

- He found it difficult to adjust to boarding after living at home for so long.
- The cost of tuition and boarding has risen significantly, making private education less accessible to middle-income families.

Usage: frequently functions as an attributive noun in 'boarding school'

### 3. wooden structure

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a surface or fence made of wooden boards.

For teachers: a structure or covering consisting of wooden planks or boards.

- The workers put up temporary boarding to hide the construction site.
- The old cottage required extensive new boarding along the exterior to prevent further moisture damage to the frame.

### 4. ice hockey penalty

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a penalty in ice hockey for hitting a player into the wall.

For teachers: a penalty called when a player checks or pushes an opponent violently into the boards surrounding the rink.

- The referee called a penalty for boarding after the defender pushed him into the wall.
- The player received a major penalty for boarding after a dangerous hit that left his opponent visibly dazed near the sideboards.

## Examples

- Boarding for the flight to London starts in ten minutes.
- The airline agent announced that boarding would be delayed due to a late arrival from the previous gate.
- The school offers both day and boarding options, allowing students from distant provinces to reside on campus throughout the academic semester.

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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.