chambers_search-1

Search Chambers

Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

  



Search Tips & Abbreviations

Search results for 'pack':

pack1 noun 1 a collection of things tied into a bundle for carrying. 2 a rucksack; a backpack. 3 a pack of cards; a complete set of playing cards. 4 a troop of animals living and hunting together as a group, eg dogs or wolves. 5 a compact package, eg of equipment for a purpose • a first-aid pack. 6 in compounds a collection of things of a specified number or for a specified purpose • four-pack • party-pack of balloons • family-pack. 7 derog a collection or bunch • a pack of idiots • a pack of lies. 8 a group of Brownie Guides or Cub Scouts which meets regularly. 9 rugby the forwards in a team. 10 a medicinal or cosmetic skin preparation, eg a face pack. 11 pack ice. verb (packed, packing) 1 to stow (goods, clothes, etc) compactly in cases, boxes, etc for transport or travel. 2 intrans to put one's belongings into a suitcase, rucksack, travel bag, etc, ready for a journey • Have you packed yet? 3 to put (goods, food, etc) into a container, or to wrap them, ready for sale. 4 intrans to be capable of being formed into a compact shape. 5 to fill something tightly or compactly • packed the sandwich full of cheese • The hall was packed. 6 tr & intr, N Amer colloq to make a habit of carrying (a gun). 7 intrans said of animals: to form a pack. pack a punch colloq to be capable of giving a powerful punch or blow. packed like sardines said eg of passengers on a bus or train during rush hour: crowded very closely together. pack it in! colloq an exclamation expressing annoyance and irritation at what someone is doing, and telling them to stop doing it. send someone packing colloq to send them away unceremoniously.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c.

pack something in 1 a to push and cram it into something that is already quite full; b to cram (a great deal of activity) into a limited period • On holiday we packed in three excursions a day. 2 to give something up or stop doing it • packed in her job.

pack into something to crowd into (a bus, train, concert hall, etc which is already full) • The rush-hour passengers packed into the train.

pack someone off to send them off hastily or abruptly • packed the children off to their friend's house.

pack something out to fill (a container, concert hall, etc) very tightly, very full, etc.

pack up 1 to stop work, etc at the end of the day or shift, etc. 2 colloq said of machinery, etc: to break down.

pack something up to put it in containers and store it.

pack2 verb (packed, packing) to fill (a jury, meeting, etc) illicitly with people one can rely on to support one.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c, originally in obsolete sense 'to intrigue'.