box
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a container with flat sides and a lid, usually made of cardboard, wood, or plastic.
n.a rigid container, typically rectangular, with a base and four sides, often including a lid.
Simple“We packed all the kitchen plates into a large cardboard box.”
In context“The courier delivered a reinforced wooden box containing the fragile laboratory equipment late Tuesday afternoon.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.a small square on a piece of paper or screen where you put a mark or information.
n.a rectangular area on a document or digital interface designated for specific data entry or a checkmark.
Simple“Please tick the box if you would like to receive our newsletter.”
In context“The applicant failed to sign the declaration box at the bottom of the second page, rendering the form invalid.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a small, private area for a group of people to sit in a theatre or stadium.
n.a separate compartment or partitioned seating area in a theatre, opera house, or sports arena for the use of a small group.
Simple“They watched the opera from a private box near the stage.”
In context“The corporate sponsors occupied the luxury box, which offered an unobstructed view of the finish line and catered refreshments.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
n.an informal word for a television set.
n.a common metonym for a television set, reflecting its historically boxy physical form.
Simple“There is nothing good on the box tonight, so let's read instead.”
In context“He spent the entire rainy Sunday afternoon slumped on the sofa, staring aimlessly at whatever was on the box.”
SynonymsTVtelly - 05 C2 Proficiency
n.a very rude word for a woman's sex organs.
n.a vulgar slang term referring to the female genitalia.
Simple“The comedian was told to stop using words like box in his act.”
In context“The script was heavily edited to remove several instances of the word box used in a derogatory sexual context.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
n.a small evergreen tree or bush often used for garden hedges.
n.any of various evergreen shrubs or trees of the genus Buxus, valued for dense foliage and hard wood.
Simple“The gardener trimmed the box hedge into the shape of a bird.”
In context“The artisan preferred using seasoned box for wood engraving due to its exceptionally fine grain and uniform density.”
Synonymsboxwood - 07 A2 Elementary
v.to fight someone as a sport using your fists and wearing thick gloves.
v.to engage in the sport of pugilism; to strike an opponent with the fists in a regulated match.
Simple“He started to box when he was ten years old to gain confidence.”
In context“The heavyweight champion will box his mandatory challenger in a twelve-round bout scheduled for next month in Las Vegas.”
- 08 B1 Intermediate
v.to put things into a box.
v.to enclose or pack items into a box for storage or transport.
Simple“We need to box these books before the moving truck arrives.”
In context“The factory workers box the finished components immediately after they pass the final quality control inspection.”
- 09 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to surround someone or something so they cannot move away.
v.to surround and restrict the movement of a person or object; frequently used in the phrasal verb 'box in'.
Simple“The other cars boxed him in so he couldn't leave the parking space.”
In context“The tactical unit managed to box the suspect's vehicle in at the end of the narrow alleyway.”
Usage box office