# boards

/ˈbɔɹdz/ (US) · /bˈɔːdz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. flat pieces of wood

noun · CEFR A2

more than one long, flat piece of cut wood used for building.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. theatre stage

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Literary

the stage in a theatre where actors perform.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. professional exams

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

important exams you take to enter a college or to get a license for a job.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. ice hockey rink walls

noun · CEFR B2

the low walls around an ice hockey rink that keep the puck inside.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The boards of both companies agreed to the merger.
- After the scandal, the boards of several major charities met to discuss new transparency rules for their members.
- While the executive team handles daily operations, the boards are responsible for long-term strategy and ensuring that the organization remains financially viable for its stakeholders.

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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.