pack

Universal Words verb, noun verb put into container 1 to put clothes, etc. into a bag in preparation for a trip away from home: [V] I haven't packed yet. * [VN] I haven't packed my suitcase yet. * He packed a bag with a few things and was off. * He packed a few things into a bag. * Did you pack the camera? * [VNN] I've packed you some food for the journey. OPPUNPACK 2 [VN] ~ sth (up) (in / into sth) to put sth into a container so that it can be stored, transported or sold: The pottery was packed in boxes and shipped to the US. * I carefully packed up the gifts. * He found a part-time job packing eggs. OPPUNPACK protect 3 [VN] ~ sth (in / with sth) to protect sth that breaks easily by surrounding it with soft material: The paintings were carefully packed in newspaper. preserve food 4 [VN] ~ sth (in sth) to preserve food in a particular substance: fish packed in ice fill 5 to fill sth with a lot of people or things: [V, +adv./prep.] We all packed together into one car. * [VN] Fans packed the hall to see the band. * Pack wet shoes with newspaper to help them dry. seealsoPACKEDOUT, PACKED snow / soil 6 [VN] ~ sth (down) to press sth such as snow or soil to form a thick hard mass: Pack the earth down around the plant. * a patch of packed snow carry gun 7 [VN] (AmE, informal) to carry sth dangerous, especially a gun: to pack a gun * A storm packing 75 mph winds swept across the area last night. IDIOMS pack a (powerful, real, etc.) punch (informal) 1 (of a boxer) to be capable of hitting sb very hard 2 to have a powerful effect on sb: The advertising campaign packs quite a punch. pack your bags (informal) to leave a person or place permanently, especially after a disagreement moreatSEND PHRASALVERBS pack away to be capable of being folded up small when it is not being used: The tent packs away in a small bag. pack sth<->away to put sth in a box, etc. when you have finished using it: We packed away the summer clothes. pack sb<->in [nopassive] (of plays, performers, etc.) to attract a lot of people to see it/them: The show is still packing them in. * The band can always pack in the crowds. pack sth<->in (informal) to stop doing sth: She decided to pack in her job. * (especially BrE) Pack it in (= stop behaving badly or annoying me), you two! pack sb/sth in / into sth 1 to do a lot of things in a limited period of time: You seem to have packed a lot into your life! 2 to put a lot of things or people into a limited space: They've managed to pack a lot of information into a very small book. pack into sth to go somewhere in large numbers so that all available space is filled: Over 80000 fans packed into the stadium to watch the final. seealsoPACK(5) pack sb<->off (to...) (informal) to send sb somewhere, especially because you do not want them with you: My parents always packed me off to bed early. * In the summer the kids were packed off to stay with their grandparents. pack sth<->out (of shows, performers, etc.) to attract enough people to completely fill a theatre, etc: The band can still pack out concert halls. seealsoPACKEDOUT pack up (informal, especially BrE) (of a machine) to stop working: The fax machine's packed up again. pack up