Collins English-English Dictionary

pack [pæk]

1. 1. n [US and Canadian] a small or medium-sized container of cardboard, paper, etc, often together with its contents packet

2. 2. n a bundle or load, esp one carried on the back

3. 3. n (as modifier)

   a pack animal

4. 4. n a collected amount of anything

5. 5. n a complete set of similar things, esp a set of 52 playing cards

6. 6. n a group of animals of the same kind, esp hunting animals

   a pack of hounds

7. 7. n any group or band that associates together, esp for criminal purposes

8. 8. n [rugby] the forwards of a team or both teams collectively, as in a scrum or in rucking

9. 9. n the basic organizational unit of Cub Scouts and Brownie Guides

10. 10. n a small package, carton, or container, used to retail commodities, esp foodstuffs, cigarettes, etc

11. 11. n (in combination)

    pack-sealed

12. 12. n short for pack ice

13. 13. n the quantity of something, such as food, packaged for preservation

14. 14. n [med] a sheet or blanket, either damp or dry, for wrapping about the body, esp for its soothing effect

15. 15. n a material such as cotton or gauze for temporarily filling a bodily cavity, esp to control bleeding

16. 16. n short for backpack

17. 17. n [mining] a roof support, esp one made of rubble

18. 18. n short for face pack

19. 19. n a parachute folded and ready for use

20. 20. n another name for deck

21. 21. vb to place or arrange (articles) in (a container), such as clothes in a suitcase

22. 22. vt. [tr] to roll up into a bundle

23. 23. vt. [when passive, often foll by out] to press tightly together; cram

    the audience packed into the foyer

    the hall was packed out

24. 24. vt. [tr; foll by in or into] to fit (many things, experiences, etc) into a limited space or time

    she packed a lot of theatre visits into her holiday

25. 25. vt. to form (snow, ice, etc) into a hard compact mass or (of snow, ice, etc) to become compacted

26. 26. vt. [tr] to press in or cover tightly

    to pack a hole with cement

27. 27. vt. [tr] to load (a horse, donkey, etc) with a burden

28. 28. vt. [often foll by off or away] to send away or go away, esp hastily

29. 29. vt. [tr] to seal (a joint) by inserting a layer of compressible material between the faces

30. 30. vt. [tr] to fill (a bearing or gland) with grease to lubricate it

31. 31. vt. [tr] to separate (two adjoining components) so that they have a predetermined gap between them, by introducing shims, washers, plates, etc

32. 32. vt. [tr] [med] to treat with a pack

33. 33. vt. [tr] [slang] to be capable of inflicting (a blow)

    he packs a mean punch

34. 34. vt. [tr] [US] [informal] to carry or wear habitually

    he packs a gun

35. 35. vi. [intr; often foll by down] [rugby] to form a scrum

36. 36. vt. [tr; often foll by into, to, etc] [US, Canadian, and NZ] to carry (goods), esp on the back

    will you pack your camping equipment into the mountains?

37. 37. vt. See also pack in pack up

38. 38. vt. [Etymology] C13: related to Middle Low German pak, of obscure origin

pack [pæk]

1. 1. vt. [tr] to fill (a legislative body, committee, etc) with one's own supporters

   to pack a jury

2. 2. vt. [Etymology] C16: perhaps changed from pact