Box (noun) — a special container made of plastic, ceramic, paper, or another material people use to store things, as a package for mails, gifts, and more.
How to Pronounce “Box”?
Audio (UK):
Audio (US):
Start with a strong b, then move to the ɑ, a little longer vowel, and finish with ks.
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Ways to Use “Box” in a Sentence
Answering the “What does a ‘box’ mean” question is not enough without you learning how to put it in real-world situations like taking another package, or buying new stuff and wondering where to put the box.
Synonyms for the Word “Box”
The reason to learn “box” synonyms is more than making your English more interesting. It is about expanding your vocabulary with ease.
Related nouns: package basket
Synonyms (contextual): carton case container
Common collocations: storage box buy a box mail box
“Box” Word Formation: Patterns and Examples
Let’s learn the combinations with other parts of speech so that you can speak about boxes like a native speaker!
With adjectives: small box plastic box new box
With verbs: unpack a box wrap a box move a box
With nouns (noun + noun): box cutter box shape pizza box
Idioms and Interesting Phrases with “Box”
Some fun expressions can surprise you with another meaning of “box,” and you can use these phrases to express your feelings better.
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Think outside the box — think creatively to find unexpected solutions to a problem.
Math classes are so hard this year. The teacher wants us tothink outside the box .
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Pandora’s box — a symbol of something that hides many expected troubles.
I knew it. This work email is aPandora’s box of new tasks. -
A box of tricks — a set of skills or methods.
He doesn’t want to go out. I tried proposing pizza and Coca-Cola, and that’s all that I have in mybox of tricks .
“Box” Meaning: Exercises for Practice
Put together all the things that you learned today to finish a little quiz we prepared for you.
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“Box” Word in Other Languages
Let’s see how speakers in other languages use this word and how it differs from the English variant.
| Language | Word for “Box” |
|---|---|
Spanish |
Caja |
French |
Boîte |
German |
Schachtel |
Let’s Explore Fun Facts About “Box”
Get ready to be excited with three facts that take place in the history of boxes. It will help you to memorize the word better.
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Originally, the term comes from the ancient Greek word.
To see the way of this word, we need to turn to etymology and Greek “pyxos” since people before made them from the boxwood tree. -
The largest cardboard box in world history was 3,264.42 m³.
In the Netherlands, in 2016, Smurfit Kappa Van Dam company made a box that broke the world’s record and became a way to celebrate their anniversary of operation. -
The cardboard box is a part of the National Toy Hall of Fame.
It happened in 2005 and was called “a toy of the imagination” because boxes are the items kids love to play with.
Inspiring Quotes Featuring “Box”
Discover what famous people said about boxes and let their words make your knowledge of this term much stronger!
— Forrest Gump
Explanation: This well-known saying from the movie links life with a box of chocolates as you cannot get a preview of the chocolate before tasting it. In the same manner, life is replete with surprises.
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien
Explanation: The riddle mentioned belongs to the well-known book “The Hobbit.” The answer is an egg, if you are interested in it!
— Tom Waits
Explanation: This can be seen as a metaphor for dealing with negative feelings. Rather than allowing the negative emotions to control your entire life, you visualize that you are putting them in a box.