Topic: GARDENING
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Sense: 1-5, 7
| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Origin: | PACK2 |
| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | pack 'to make a secret agreement' (16-17 centuries), perhaps from pact |
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pack1 S2 W3
1 to put things into cases, bags etc ready for a trip somewhere : I forgot to pack my razor. Have you finished packing yet?
clothes
[intransitive and transitive] also pack upDI forgot to pack my razor.Have you finished packing yet?2 to put something into a box or other container, so that it can be moved, sold, or stored
goods
[transitive] also pack up pack something in/into something Now wild mushrooms are available all year, packed in handy 25g boxes.
Now wild mushrooms are available all year, packed in handy 25g boxes.3 to go in large numbers into a space, or to make people or animals do this, until the space is too full
crowd
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] pack into/in/onto 50,000 fans packed into the stadium. The sheep had been packed into a truck and transported without food or water.
50,000 fans packed into the stadium.The sheep had been packed into a truck and transported without food or water.4 to cover or fill an object with soft material so that it does not get damaged
protect something
[transitive]5 to press snow, soil, sand etc down so that it becomes hard and firm
snow/soil etc
DLG8 to have a very strong or impressive effect : The Spanish wine, with the flavour of honey, packed quite a punch.
pack a (hard/hefty/strong etc) punch
also pack a wallop informalThe Spanish wine, with the flavour of honey, packed quite a punch.➔ send somebody packing
at send (11)pack something ↔ away
phrasal verbChristmas was over and the decorations packed away.pack in
phrasal verb1 to do a lot in a limited period of time, or fit a lot of information, ideas etc into a limited space : We packed a lot of sightseeing into two weeks. In an essay of 2000 words, you can pack a lot in.
pack something ↔ in
also pack something into somethingWe packed a lot of sightseeing into two weeks.In an essay of 2000 words, you can pack a lot in.2 if a film, play etc packs people in, it attracts large numbers to come and see it : Any film starring Tom Cruise always packs them in.
pack somebody ↔ in
informalAny film starring Tom Cruise always packs them in.3 to stop doing a job or activity that you are not enjoying : After one year, I packed in university.
pack something ↔ in
British English informalAfter one year, I packed in university.4 used to tell someone to stop doing something that is annoying you
pack it in
British English spoken5 British English informal if a machine packs in, it stops working because there is something wrong with it [= pack up]: Halfway to the airport, the engine packed in.
Halfway to the airport, the engine packed in.pack somebody/something off
phrasal verbpack up
phrasal verb1 to put things into cases, bags etc ready for a trip somewhere : Most of the holidaymakers had packed up and gone.
Most of the holidaymakers had packed up and gone.2 to put something into a box or other container, so that it can be moved, sold, or stored : Don't worry. The removal men will pack everything up.
pack something ↔ up
Don't worry. The removal men will pack everything up.3 informalB to finish work at the end of the day : 'What time do you pack up?' 'Oh, about six.'
'What time do you pack up?' 'Oh, about six.'4 British English informalT if a machine packs up, it stops working because there is something wrong with it [= pack in]: The photocopier's packed up again.
The photocopier's packed up again.5BE to stop doing something, especially a job : He packed up his teaching job after only three months.
pack something ↔ up
British English informalHe packed up his teaching job after only three months.