Word
boards
US/ˈbɔɹdz/
UK/bˈɔːdz/
Definitions
01flat pieces of wood
A2 · Elementary Plural noun
n. more than one long, flat piece of cut wood used for building.
n. plural of board; multiple pieces of sawn timber used in construction or flooring.
“We bought several wooden boards to build a new fence in the garden.”
“The carpenter carefully selected the straightest boards from the stack to ensure the floor would be perfectly level.”
02theatre stage
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Theater Informal · Literary
n. the stage in a theatre where actors perform.
n. the stage of a theatre; often used in the idiom 'to tread the boards'.
“The young actor was nervous the first time he stepped onto the boards.”
“After decades of treading the boards in London, the veteran actress decided to retire from the stage and teach drama.”
Usage
Usually used with the definite article 'the'.
03professional exams
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun American English
n. important exams you take to enter a college or to get a license for a job.
n. standardised examinations administered for university admission or professional certification.
“She spent all summer studying so she could pass her medical boards.”
“The students were under immense pressure as the date for the college entrance boards approached.”
Teaching tip
Commonly used in the US for medical, legal, or educational entrance exams.
04ice hockey rink walls
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Sports
n. the low walls around an ice hockey rink that keep the puck inside.
n. the vertical structure surrounding an ice hockey rink, used to contain the puck and players.
“The player was pushed against the boards during a fast play.”
“The puck took a strange bounce off the boards, catching the goalkeeper out of position and leading to a goal.”
Real-World Examples
“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.” Etymology
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
From College Board tests.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
02. tread the boards
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/boards