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# box

noun (box, boxes); verb (box, boxes, boxed, boxing)

«box» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A box is a container with flat sides, often with a lid. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#m1)
2. A box is the amount a box holds: a box of crayons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#m2)
3. A box is a square drawn on paper to write in: tick the box. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#m3)
4. To box is to fight with the fists in a sport, or to put into boxes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#m4)
5. (casual, UK) «The box» means the television: what's on the box? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#m5)
6. (casual) «Think outside the box» means think in a new way; «tick all the boxes» means be just right. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#m6)
7. (rough) «Box someone's ears» means hit them on the head (old use); «boxed in» means trapped. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#m7)
8. (formal) The exam voice says «container», «carton», «crate», «receptacle», «cuboid». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#m8)

### In the lessons

a container; one of several equal groups («5 boxes with 6 in each» = 5 × 6), or the boxes things are split into («equally into 4 boxes» = divide); on worksheets «write the answer in the box», «tick the box»; in everyday life lunch box, toy box, cardboard box, post box; in maths a cube or cuboid is a box shape; in casual talk «what's on the box», «outside the box»; in the exam voice «cartons», «crates», «a cuboid of dimensions …»

### Examples

- Lily has 5 boxes with 6 marbles in each box. How many marbles does Lily have? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x1)
- Max splits 24 stamps equally into 4 boxes. How many stamps go in each box? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x2)
- There are 3 pens on the table and 4 in the box. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x3)
- Put your toys back in the toy box. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x4)
- Tick the box next to the right answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x5)
- We packed our books into boxes when we moved. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x6)
- A box of chocolates has 20 pieces. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x7)
- The cat loves to sit in an empty box. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x8)
- anything good on the box tonight? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x9)
- crap, dropped the box, 3 eggs smashed [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x10)
- That idea ticks all the boxes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x11)
- A consignment of 5 cartons, each containing 6 marbles, is delivered; compute the aggregate number of marbles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x12)
- Labakan rose and looked at the boxes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/#x13)

### Note

Plural «boxes» (add -es). A container is not a clue by itself. Trap: «N boxes with M in each box» = multiply; «splits … equally into N boxes» = divide; «on the table and in the box» = two parts to add. «dropped the box, 3 eggs smashed» means 3 fewer whole eggs: subtract. «the box» in UK casual talk can mean the TV. «carton» and «crate» in an exam are boxes too.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «box» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/box/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«box» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/box.html) on Mova free.