pack

verb

/pæk/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they pack	/pæk/ /pæk/
he / she / it packs	/pæks/ /pæks/
past simple packed	/pækt/ /pækt/
past participle packed	/pækt/ /pækt/
-ing form packing	/ˈpækɪŋ/ /ˈpækɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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put into container

[intransitive, transitive] to put clothes, etc. into a bag in preparation for a trip away from home

I haven't packed yet.
I have to start packing for my trip.
pack something I haven't packed my suitcase yet.
I packed my bags and left.
Did you pack the camera?
pack A with B He packed a bag with a few things and was off.
pack B into A He packed a few things into a bag.
pack somebody something I've packed you some food for the journey.

opposite unpack (1)Topics Holidaysa2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

carefully
neatly
tightly
…

preposition

in
into

See full entry

[transitive] to put something into a container so that it can be stored, transported or sold

pack something in/into something The pottery was packed in boxes and shipped to the US.
pack something up I carefully packed up the gifts.
pack something up in/into something Ryan busied himself packing everything up into bags.
pack something He found a part-time job packing eggs.

opposite unpack

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

carefully
neatly
tightly
…

preposition

in
into

See full entry

protect

[transitive] pack something (in/with something) to protect something that breaks easily by surrounding it with soft material

The paintings were carefully packed in newspaper.

preserve food

[transitive] pack something (in something) to preserve food in a particular substance

fish packed in ice

fill

[intransitive, transitive] to fill something with a lot of people or things

+ adv./prep. We all packed together into one car.
pack something (with something) Fans packed the hall to see the band.
Pack wet shoes with newspaper to help them dry.

snow/soil

[transitive] pack something (down) to press something such as snow or soil to form a thick hard mass

Pack the earth down around the plant.
a patch of packed snow

carry gun

[transitive, intransitive] pack (something) (North American English, informal) to carry a gun

to pack a gun
Is he packing?

storm

[transitive] pack something to have something

A storm packing 75 mph winds swept across the area last night.

Word OriginMiddle English: from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German pak (noun), pakken (verb). The verb appears appears early in Anglo-Latin and Anglo-Norman French in connection with the wool trade; trade in English wool was chiefly with the Low Countries.

Idioms

pack your bags

(informal) to leave a person or place permanently, especially after an argument

pack a (powerful, real, etc.) punch (informal)

(of a boxer) to be capable of hitting somebody very hard
to have a powerful effect on somebody
- The advertising campaign packs quite a punch.

send somebody packing

(informal) to tell somebody clearly or rudely to go away
- She tried to interfere but I sent her packing.

pack

noun

/pæk/

Idioms

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container

enlarge image

[countable] (especially North American English) a container, usually made of paper, that holds a number of the same thing or an amount of something, ready to be sold

pack of something a pack of cigarettes/gum
You can buy the envelopes in packs of ten.
a family pack (= one big enough for a family) of crisps

compare package, packet see also blister pack, bubble pack, flat-pack, power pack, six-pack

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

cigarette
blister
gift
…

pack + verb

contain something

preposition

in a/the pack
pack of

See full entry

set

[countable] a set of different things that are supplied together for a particular purpose

Send for your free information pack today.
a starter/welcome/gift pack
Each child was given a party pack filled with goodies.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

action
information
resource
…

pack + verb

contain something
include something

See full entry

things tied for carrying

[countable] a number of things that are wrapped or tied together, especially for carrying

donkeys carrying packs of wool
(figurative) Everything she told us is a pack of lies (= a story that is completely false).

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

heavy
fanny
battery
…

verb + pack

carry
sling

pack + noun

animal
horse
mule
…

preposition

in a/the pack

See full entry

large bag

[countable] a large bag that you carry on your back

We passed a group of walkers, carrying huge packs.
The water in his pack made it very heavy.

of animals

[countable + singular or plural verb] a group of animals that hunt together or are kept for hunting

packs of savage dogs
wolves hunting in packs
a pack of hounds
the dominant animal in the pack

Wordfinder

chase
falconry
game
hunt
open season
pack
poach
prey
safari
trail

Topics Animalsb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

wolf
hunting
brat
…

verb + pack

lead

pack + noun

instinct

preposition

in a/the pack
in packs
pack of
…

phrases

the leader of the pack

See full entry

of people

[countable + singular or plural verb] a group of similar people or things, especially one that you do not like or approve of

We avoided a pack of journalists waiting outside.
He's the leader of the pack.
Of all the newspapers, this one is the worst of the pack.

of cards

enlarge image

(especially British English)

(also deck North American English, British English)

[countable] a complete set of 52 playing cards

a pack of cards
During the earthquake, buildings collapsed like a pack of cards.
Take a card from the top of the pack.

Topics Games and toysc2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + pack

shuffle
cut

preposition

in a/the pack

phrases

the bottom of the pack
the top of the pack
a pack of cards
…

See full entry

of Cubs/Brownies

[countable + singular or plural verb] an organized group of cubs / Cub Scouts or brownies

to join a Brownie pack

for wound

[countable] a hot or cold piece of soft material that holds liquid, used for treating a wound see also face pack, ice pack, mud packTopics Medicinec1

Idioms

the joker in the pack

a person or thing that could change the way that things will happen in a way that cannot be predicted