Library / English Dictionary

BOX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A blow with the hand (usually on the ear)

Example:

I gave him a good box on the ear

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

blow (a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon)

Derivation:

box (engage in a boxing match)

box (hit with the fist)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

Example:

he rummaged through a box of spare parts

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

container (any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another))

Meronyms (parts of "box"):

base (a flat bottom on which something is intended to sit)

lid (a movable top or cover (hinged or separate) for closing the opening at the top of a box, chest, jar, pan, etc.)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

window box (a long narrow box for growing plants on a windowsill)

tuck box (a box for storing eatables (especially at boarding school))

tinderbox (a box for holding tinder)

deedbox; strongbox (a strongly made box for holding money or valuables; can be locked)

snuffbox (a small ornamental box for carrying snuff in your pocket)

shoebox (an oblong rectangular (usually cardboard) box designed to hold a pair of shoes)

shadow box (a shallow rectangular box with a transparent front used to protect and display small items (jewelry, coins, etc.))

pyxis (a small box used by ancient Greeks to hold medicines)

alms box; mite box; poor box (box for collecting alms, especially one in a church)

play-box; playbox (a box for a child's toys and personal things (especially at a boarding school))

pencil box; pencil case (a box for holding pencils)

paintbox (a box containing a collection of cubes or tubes of artists' paint)

matchbox (a box for holding matches)

letter box; mailbox (a private box for delivery of mail)

hod (an open box attached to a long pole handle; bricks or mortar are carried on the shoulder)

flat (a shallow box in which seedlings are started)

crate (a rugged box (usually made of wood); used for shipping)

casket; coffin (box in which a corpse is buried or cremated)

cigar box (a box for holding cigars)

chest (box with a lid; used for storage; usually large and sturdy)

cereal box (a paper box in which breakfast cereals are sold)

casket; jewel casket (small and often ornate box for holding jewels or other valuables)

carton (a box made of cardboard; opens by flaps on top)

bandbox (a light cylindrical box for holding light articles of attire (especially hats))

ballot box (a box where voters deposit their ballots)

Derivation:

box (put into a box)

boxy (resembling a box in rectangularity)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Separate partitioned area in a public place for a few people

Example:

the sentry stayed in his box to avoid the cold

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

compartment (a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

witness box; witness stand (a box enclosure for a witness when testifying)

press box (box reserved for reporters (as at a sports event))

jury box (an enclosure within a courtroom for the jury)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Private area in a theater or grandstand where a small group can watch the performance

Example:

the royal box was empty

Synonyms:

box; loge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

compartment (a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area)

Meronyms (parts of "box"):

box seat (a special seat in a theater or grandstand box)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

skybox (an elevated box for viewing events at a sports stadium)

Holonyms ("box" is a part of...):

balcony (an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The driver's seat on a coach

Example:

an armed guard sat in the box with the driver

Synonyms:

box; box seat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

seat (furniture that is designed for sitting on)

Holonyms ("box" is a part of...):

coach; coach-and-four; four-in-hand (a carriage pulled by four horses with one driver)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Any one of several designated areas on a ball field where the batter or catcher or coaches are positioned

Example:

the umpire warned the batter to stay in the batter's box

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

area (a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

batter's box (an area on a baseball diamond (on either side of home plate) marked by lines within which the batter must stand when at bat)

Holonyms ("box" is a part of...):

ball field; baseball field; diamond (the baseball playing field)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Evergreen shrubs or small trees

Synonyms:

box; boxwood

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

bush; shrub (a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems)

Meronyms (substance of "box"):

boxwood; Turkish boxwood (very hard tough close-grained light yellow wood of the box (particularly the common box); used in delicate woodwork: musical instruments and inlays and engraving blocks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "box"):

Buxus sempervirens; common box; European box (large slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with multiple stems; extensively used for hedges or borders and topiary figures)

Holonyms ("box" is a member of...):

Buxus; genus Buxus (type genus of the Buxaceae)

Sense 8

Meaning:

The quantity contained in a box

Example:

he gave her a box of chocolates

Synonyms:

box; boxful

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

containerful (the quantity that a container will hold)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A rectangular drawing

Example:

the flowchart contained many boxes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

rectangle (a parallelogram with four right angles)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible

Example:

his lying got him into a tight corner

Synonyms:

box; corner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("box" is a kind of...):

plight; predicament; quandary (a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Engage in a boxing match

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "box" is one way to...):

contend; fight; struggle (be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "box"):

spar (box lightly)

prizefight (box for a prize or money)

shadowbox (go through boxing motions without an opponent)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue box

Sam cannot box Sue

Derivation:

box (a blow with the hand (usually on the ear))

boxer (someone who fights with his fists for sport)

boxing (fighting with the fists)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hit with the fist

Example:

I'll box your ears!

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "box" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to box his opponent

Derivation:

box (a blow with the hand (usually on the ear))

boxer (someone who fights with his fists for sport)

boxing (fighting with the fists)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Put into a box

Example:

box the gift, please

Synonyms:

box; package

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "box" is one way to...):

case; encase; incase (enclose in, or as if in, a case)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They box the goods

Antonym:

unbox (remove from a box)

Derivation:

box (a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid)

boxer (a workman employed to pack things into containers)

boxing (the enclosure of something in a package or box)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“You must hear me. You shall hear me. Do you remember a box—an ivory box? It came on Wednesday. You opened it—do you remember?”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Five—a cloak of fur turned up with minever, a gold goblet with stand and cover, and a box of rose-colored sugar.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Cancer of the larynx (voice box) may also be included as a type of pharyngeal cancer.

(Pharyngeal cancer, NCI Dictionary)

This protein is comprised of the N-terminal DNA binding domain of paired box protein Pax-8 and the entire peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma protein, including the ligand binding, DNA binding and activation domains.

(PAX8/PPARG Fusion Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes paired box protein Pax-8, plays a role in the regulation of thyroid-specific gene transcription.

(PAX8 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is comprised of the N-terminal DNA binding domain of paired box protein Pax-7 and the C-terminal transactivation domain of forkhead box protein O1.

(PAX7/FOXO1 Fusion Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Pipe smoking can lead to nicotine addiction and can cause cancers of the mouth, larynx (voice box), esophagus, lung, pancreas, and bladder.

(Pipe, NCI Dictionary)

You've seen my snuff-box, haven't you?

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Once a woman spoke to him, offering, I think, a box of lights.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Yes, I see the lady upon the box seat.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)