pack1
n.
- a cardboard or paper container and the items contained within it.
▸a quantity of foods packed or canned in a particular season.
- a collection of related documents.
▸Brit. a set of playing cards.
▸
chiefly derogatory a group or set of similar things or people:
a pack of lies.
- a group of wild animals, especially wolves, living and hunting together.
▸a group of hounds kept for hunting.
▸
(the pack)
the main body of competitors following the leader in a race or competition.
- an organized group of Cub Scouts or Brownies.
- Rugby a team's forwards considered as a group.
- a rucksack or similar bag.
- a hot or cold pad of absorbent material, used for treating an injury.
- pack ice.
v.
- fill (a suitcase or bag) with clothes and other items needed for travel.
- place in a container for transport or storage.
▸be capable of being folded up for transport or storage.
- cram a large number of things into.
▸
[often as adj. packed]
(of a large number of people) crowd into and fill (a place).
- cover, surround, or fill.
- informal carry (a gun).
- Rugby (of players) form a scrum.
Phrase
- pack heat
N. Amer. informal carry a gun. - pack a punch
- be capable of hitting with skill or force.
- have a powerful effect.
- packed out
Brit. informal very crowded. - send someone packing
informal dismiss someone peremptorily.
Phrase verbal
- pack something in
informal give up an activity or job. - pack someone off
informal send someone somewhere peremptorily. - pack something out
N. Amer. pack something up and take it away. - pack up
(or in)
Brit. informal (of a machine) break down.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from MDu., Mid. Low Ger. pak (n.), pakken (v.).
pack2
v.
fill (a jury or committee) with people likely to support a particular verdict or decision.
Etymology
C16 (in the sense ‘enter into a private agreement’): prob. from the obs. verb pact ‘enter into an agreement with’, the final -t being interpreted as an inflection of the past tense.