packet
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a small paper or plastic container for holding a specific amount of something.
n.a small pack, package, or envelope used to contain a specific quantity of goods.
Simple“He bought a packet of biscuits to share with his friends during the break.”
In context“The instructions on the back of the seed packet suggested planting them in early spring to ensure a late summer bloom.”
UsageCommonly used with 'of' followed by the contents (e.g., a packet of cigarettes, a packet of crisps).
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a very large amount of money.
n.a substantial sum of money, typically referring to earnings or costs.
Simple“That new car must have cost him a packet.”
In context“After the company went public, the early investors made a packet and retired before they were forty.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'cost', 'make', or 'earn'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a small piece of information sent over the internet or a computer network.
n.a unit of data transmitted over a network, containing a payload and a header with routing information.
Simple“The video was blurry because some data packets were lost during the download.”
In context“Network congestion can lead to packet loss, which significantly degrades the quality of real-time voice and video communication.”
Synonymsdata unit - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a boat or ship that carries mail, passengers, and goods on a regular schedule.
n.a vessel employed by a government or company to convey dispatches, mail, and passengers on fixed dates.
Simple“In the nineteenth century, the packet arrived twice a week with news from overseas.”
In context“The transatlantic packet was the primary means of communication between the colonies and the mainland before the advent of the telegraph.”
Synonymsmail boatpacket boat - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to put things together into a small package.
v.to wrap or consolidate items into a packet or bundle.
Simple“The workers had to packet the dried herbs before they could be shipped to stores.”
In context“The automated system is designed to packet the components efficiently, reducing the overall volume for international shipping.”
From Middle English pacquet; either from Middle French pacquet, or formed independently from pak and -et.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.