Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Anglo-French
Origin: pacquet, from pack

packet

 noun
     
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pack‧et S2 [countable]
1
British EnglishBBT a container made of paper, plastic, or cardboard that something is sold in
packet of
a packet of envelopes
a packet of cigarettes
a cereal packet
2 especially British English a small flat package that is sent by post or delivered to someone:
Paul tore open the packet as soon as it arrived.
 ➔ pay packet
3

cost a packet

British English informalB to cost a lot of money:
I bet that car cost him a packet.
4TD technical a quantity of information that is sent as a single unit from one computer to another on a network or on the Internet
WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:

package, packet, packaging, packing, pack!! Do not confuse these similar words.A package is a parcel, usually sent by post • A package containing a bomb was delivered to her home.In American English, a package is also a paper or plastic container that food etc is sold in • a package of cookiesIn British English, a packet is a box, bag, or some other container that things are sold in • a packet of biscuits • a packet of crisps. A packet can also sometimes be called a pack • a pack of cigarettes. This meaning of pack is also used in American English.In American English, a packet is a small flat paper or plastic container for something such as tomato ketchup or sugar. The British word for this is sachet.Packaging is material that is put round things that are sold, to protect them or to encourage people to buy them • It's the same old stuff in better packaging.Packing is material that is put around things to protect them, especially from getting damaged in the post • Carefully remove the computer from its foam packing. ➔ See also package
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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