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’.