boards
- 01 A2 Elementary
more than one long, flat piece of cut wood used for building.
plural of board; multiple pieces of sawn timber used in construction or flooring.
Simple“We bought several wooden boards to build a new fence in the garden.”
In context“The carpenter carefully selected the straightest boards from the stack to ensure the floor would be perfectly level.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
the stage in a theatre where actors perform.
the stage of a theatre; often used in the idiom 'to tread the boards'.
Simple“The young actor was nervous the first time he stepped onto the boards.”
In context“After decades of treading the boards in London, the veteran actress decided to retire from the stage and teach drama.”
UsageUsually used with the definite article 'the'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
important exams you take to enter a college or to get a license for a job.
standardised examinations administered for university admission or professional certification.
Simple“She spent all summer studying so she could pass her medical boards.”
In context“The students were under immense pressure as the date for the college entrance boards approached.”
Teacher's tipCommonly used in the US for medical, legal, or educational entrance exams.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
the low walls around an ice hockey rink that keep the puck inside.
the vertical structure surrounding an ice hockey rink, used to contain the puck and players.
Simple“The player was pushed against the boards during a fast play.”
In context“The puck took a strange bounce off the boards, catching the goalkeeper out of position and leading to a goal.”
“But rather than solving every possible board, they grouped boards that shared the same pattern of repeated numbers.”
“That’s because Q referenced Epstein Island in drops of information on 8chan and other message boards.”
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
From College Board tests.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.