n.
- a long, thin, flat piece of wood used for floors or other building purposes.
▸
(the boards)
informal the stage of a theatre.
- a thin, flat rectangular piece of stiff material, e.g. a chopping board or noticeboard.
▸the piece of equipment on which one stands in surfing, skateboarding, etc.
-
[treated as sing. or pl.]
the decision-making body of an organization.
- the provision of regular meals in return for payment or services.
▸archaic a table set for a meal.
- Sailing a distance covered by a vessel in a single tack.
v.
- get on or into (a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle).
▸
(be boarding)
(of an aircraft) be ready for passengers to get on.
- live in someone's house and receive meals in return for payment or services.
▸(of a pupil) live in school during term time in return for payment.
-
(board something up/over)
cover or seal a window or building with pieces of wood.
-
[as adj. boarded]
made of wooden boards.
- ride on a snowboard.
Phrase
- go by the board
(of a plan or principle) be abandoned, rejected, or ignored.
[from naut. use meaning ‘fall overboard’, board meaning the side of the ship.]
- on board
- on or in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
- informal on to a team as a member.
- take something on board
informal fully consider or assimilate a new idea or situation. - tread the boards
informal appear on stage as an actor.
Derivative
Etymology
OE bord, of Gmc origin; reinforced in ME by OFr. bort ‘edge, ship's side’ and ON borth ‘board, table’.