pack

1 verb

1 IN BOXES, CASES ETC also pack up (I, T) to put things into cases, boxes etc for taking somewhere or storing: I forgot to pack my razor. | They packed up the contents of their house. | We're off to Greece tomorrow and I haven't even started packing yet. | pack sb sth: Have you packed the kids a lunch?

2 pack a bag/case etc to put things into a bag, case etc: She packed her suitcase and headed for the airport.

—opposite unpack (1)

3 CROWD OF PEOPLE (intransitive always + adv/prep, transitive always + adv/prep) to go in large numbers into a space that is not big enough, or to make a lot of people or things do this

(+ into/in/onto): When the door was opened people began to pack into the hall. | They packed as many people as possible onto the bus.

4 PROTECT STH (T) to cover, fill, or surround an object closely with a protective material: Pack the newspaper around the china so that it doesn't break.

(+ in/with): china cups packed with paper

5 pack your bags informal to leave a place and not return, especially because of a disagreement: Why don't you pack your bags and find another job?

6 SNOW/SOIL ETC (T) to press soil, sand etc into a firm mass: pack soil firmly around the stem

7 MEAT ETC (T) to prepare food and put it into containers for preserving or selling

8 pack a committee/jury/meeting etc (T) to secretly and dishonestly arrange for a committee etc to be filled with people who support you

9 pack a gun AmE to regularly carry a gun

10 pack a (hard) punch informal

a) to be able to hit another person hard in a fight

b) to be able to speak very effectively in an argument or discussion

—see also: send sb packing send (9) pack sth away phrasal verb (T) to put something back in a box, case etc where it is usually kept: We packed away the picnic things. pack sb/sth in phrasal verb (T)

1 informal to attract people in large numbers: "Pulp Fiction" is really packing them in.

2 also pack sth into sth to fit a lot of something into a space, place, or period of time: They packed so much into their holiday, they returned exhausted.

3 informal especially BrE to stop doing something, especially a job that you find unpleasant or annoying: At times like this I feel like packing it all in and going off travelling.

4 pack it in spoken used to tell someone to stop doing something that is annoying you: Pack it in you two. I'm tired of hearing you arguing.

5 BrE informal to end a romantic relationship with someone

pack sb/sth off phrasal verb (T) informal to send someone away quickly, to avoid trouble or because you want to get rid of them: My parents packed us off to camp every summer. pack up phrasal verb

1 (I) informal to finish work: Business was slack and she packed up early.

2 (I) informal especially BrE if a machine packs up it stops working: The engine's packed up!

3 (T) informal BrE to stop doing something such as a job: He's packed up his job after only three months.

2 noun (C)

1 THINGS WRAPPED TOGETHER several things wrapped or tied together or put in a case, to make them easy to carry, sell, or give to someone: Send away for your free information pack today.

—see also: six­pack

2 SMALL CONTAINER especially AmE a small container, usually made of paper, with a set of things in it: packet (1) packet (2)

(+ of): a pack of cigarettes | a pack of gum BrE

3 BAG (C) BrE a bag carried by a climber, walker, or soldier, that is fastened to their shoulders and is used to carry equipment, clothes etc

4 ANIMALS a group of wild animals that hunt together, or a group of dogs trained together for hunting: a wolf pack | a pack of hounds

5 GROUP OF PEOPLE a group of people who do something together, especially a group who you do not approve of: a pack of thieves | the Hollywood brat pack

6 MILITARY a group of aircraft, submarines, etc that fight the enemy together

7 be a pack of lies informal to be completely untrue: Don't you believe what it says in the paper - it's a pack of lies.

8 CARDS a complete set of playing cards: Please shuffle the pack and deal.

9 Cub/Brownie pack a group of children belonging to a children's organization

—see Cub Scout, brownie

10 ON A WOUND a thick mass of soft cloth that you press on a wound to stop the flow of blood: compress 2

—see also: ice pack

11 BEAUTY TREATMENT a substance, often a special mud or clay, that you put on your skin to make you feel better

—see also: face pack, mudpack