Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense boards, present participle boarding, past tense, past participle boarded
1. countable noun [usually noun NOUN]
A board is a flat, thin, rectangular piece of wood or plastic which is used for a particularpurpose.
...a chopping board.
2. countable noun
A board is a square piece of wood or stiff cardboard that you use for playing games such as chess.
...a draughts board.
Dr Tinsley had five pieces on the board against Chinook's four.
3. countable noun
You can refer to a blackboard or a noticeboard as a board.
He wrote a few more notes on the board.
Synonyms: blackboard, noticeboard, chalkboard, flip chart More Synonyms of board
4. countable noun
Boards are long flat pieces of wood which are used, for example, to make floors or walls.
The floor was draughty bare boards.
Synonyms: plank, panel, timber, piece of wood More Synonyms of board
5. countable noun
Theboard of a company or organization is the group of people who control it and direct it.
[business]
Arthur wants to put his recommendation before the board at a meeting tomorrow.
...the agenda for the September 12 board meeting.
Synonyms: management, heads, leaders, directors More Synonyms of board
6. See also board of directors
7. countable noun
Board is used in the names of various organizations which are involved in dealing with a particular kind of activity.
A booklet listing all types of accommodation is published each year by the SpanishTourist Board.
...the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
Synonyms: council, directors, committee, congress More Synonyms of board
8. verb
When you board a train, ship, or aircraft, you get on it in order to travel somewhere.
[formal]
I boarded the plane bound for England. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: get on, enter, mount, embark More Synonyms of board
9. uncountable noun
Board is the food which is provided when you stay somewhere, for example in a hotel.
Free room and board are provided for all hotel staff.
Synonyms: meals, food, eats [informal], provisions More Synonyms of board
10. See also bulletin board
11.
See above board
12.
See across the board
13.
See go by the board
14.
See on board
15.
See to sweep the board
16.
See take on board
Phrasal verbs:
See board out
See board up
More Synonyms of board
board in British English
(bɔːd)
noun
1.
a long wide flat relatively thin piece of sawn timber
2.
a.
a smaller flat piece of rigid material for a specific purpose
ironing board
b.
(in combination)
breadboard
cheeseboard
3.
a person's food or meals, provided regularly for money or sometimes as payment for work done (esp in the phrasesfull board, board and lodging)
4. archaic
a table, esp one used for eating at, and esp when laden with food
5.
a. (sometimes functioning as plural)
a group of people who officially administer a company, trust, etc
a board of directors
b.
(as modifier)
a board meeting
6.
any other committee or council
a board of interviewers
7. the boards
8. short for blackboard, chessboard, notice board, printed circuit board, springboard, surfboard
9.
stiff cardboard or similar material covered with paper, cloth, etc, used for the outside covers ofa book
10.
a flat thin rectangular sheet of composite material, such as plasterboard or chipboard
11. mainly US
a.
a list on which stock-exchange securities and their prices are posted
b. informal
the stock exchange itself
12. nautical
a.
the side of a ship
b.
the leg that a sailing vessel makes on a beat to windward
13. Australian and New Zealand
the part of the floor of a sheep-shearing shed, esp a raised part, where the shearers work
14. New Zealand
the killing floor of an abattoir or freezing works
15.
a.
any of various portable surfaces specially designed for indoor games such as chess, backgammon, etc
b.
(as modifier)
board games
16.
a.
a set of hands in duplicate bridge
b.
a wooden or metal board containing four slots, or often nowadays, a plastic wallet, in which the four hands are placed so that the deal may be replayed with identical hands
17.
the hull of a sailboard, usually made of plastic, to which the mast is jointed and on which a windsurfer stands
18. above board
19. go by the board
20. on board
21. sweep the board
22. take on board
verb
23.
to go aboard (a vessel, train, aircraft, or other vehicle)
24. nautical
to come alongside (a vessel) before attacking or going aboard
25.
to attack (a ship) by forcing one's way aboard
26. (tr; often foll by up, in, etc)
to cover or shut with boards
27. (intransitive)
to give or receive meals or meals and lodging in return for money or work
28. (sometimes foll by out)
to receive or arrange for (someone, esp a child) to receive food and lodging awayfrom home, usually in return for payment
Derived forms
boardable (ˈboardable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English bord; related to Old Norse borth ship's side, table, Old High German bort ship's side, Sanskrit bardhaka a cutting off
board in American English
(bɔrd)
noun
1.
a long, broad, flat piece of sawed wood ready for use; thin plank
2.
a flat piece of wood or similar material, often rectangular, for some special use
a checkerboard, bulletin board, ironing board, diving board
3.
a.
any of various construction materials manufactured in thin, flat, rectangular sheets
fiberboard
b.
pasteboard or stiff paper, often used for book covers
4.
a.
a table for meals, esp. when spread with food
b.
food served at a table; esp., meals provided regularly for pay
5. Archaic
a council table
6.
a group of persons who manage or control a business, school system, etc.; council
a board of trade, a board of education
7. US
a.
a posted or printed list of the stocks sold and their prices, on a particular stockexchange
b.
the stock exchange listing these stocks
8.
the side of a ship
usually in compounds
overboard
9.
a rim, border, or coast
now only in seaboard
10. US; [pl.], Basketball
a.
the backboards, esp. as the source of rebounds
b.
rebounds
11. [alsoB-] [pl.]; Education
a.
a qualifying examination, esp. one for admission to an academic program
college boards
b.
one's score on such an examination
12. Electronics
circuit board
13. [pl.]; Hockey
the wooden or fiberglass wall surrounding the rink
14. Nautical
the distance covered in one tack when sailing into the wind
verb transitive
15.
to cover or close (up) with boards
16.
to provide with meals, or room and meals, regularly for pay
17.
to house (a person) where board is supplied
18.
to come alongside (a ship), esp. with hostile purpose
19.
to come over the rail and onto the deck of (a ship)
20. US
to get on (a train, bus, etc.)
verb intransitive
21.
to receive meals, or room and meals, regularly for pay
Idioms:
across the board
go by the board
on board
the boards
Word origin
ME & OE bord, a plank, flat surface (nautical senses via OFr bord, side of a ship < Frank *bord, akin to OE bord) < IE *bhdho-, board < *bheredh- < base *bher-, to cut
More idioms containing
board
take something on board
sweep the board
go by the board
go back to the drawing board
across the board
above board
be as stiff as a board
COBUILD Collocations
board
management board
Examples of 'board' in a sentence
board
She was practising lying flat on a board and jumping up.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Indeed we share their dislike of staff reps being imposed on company boards.
The Sun (2016)
Board games are one of the ways we connect.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The electronic information signs on board the trains will also be upgraded.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What has been taken on board constructively was the criticism of their attitude towards games.
The Sun (2016)
It also explains how some leaders can face a hostile board or angry group of shareholders with calmness and reason.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Cruise based on full board.
The Sun (2016)
At night I lay on the bed in the cavernous room at the boarding house.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Cruise based on full board, hotel based on B&B.
The Sun (2016)
Customs officers will be given powers allowing them to board and detain ships suspected of smuggling migrants.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You may want to work through the questions with the church staff or board.
Christianity Today (2000)
Who is the man with the chess board?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This was all honest and above board.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Regulations mean that there must be two pilots on board to take control if necessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The first six boards were completely flat.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This is full board with return flights and transfers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She became convinced that schools and exam boards were conspiring together to make tests easier.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There would also need to be a company board minute to approve the share transfer.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Passengers will still have to remove bottles from their hand luggage for inspection before they board aircraft.
The Sun (2012)
He shuffled forwards as if moving to board the train.
Christopher Ross TUNNEL VISIONS: Journeys of an Underground Philosopher (2001)
The business world is hardly short of capable women ready to join boards and make a valuable contribution.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
All they had was bare boards.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
The premise is simple: you provide the graft and your host provides board and lodging.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He will spend two months on board working alongside US drug enforcement officers.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
board
British English: board /bɔːd/ NOUN
directors The board of a company or organization is the group of people who control it.
I'm on the board of directors.
American English: board meeting
Arabic: لـَجْنَة
Brazilian Portuguese: comissão de diretores
Chinese: 董事会
Croatian: odbor
Czech: představenstvo
Danish: bestyrelse
Dutch: bestuur
European Spanish: junta consejo
Finnish: johtokunta
French: conseil d’administration
German: Vorstand
Greek: διοικητικό συμβούλιο
Italian: consiglio
Japanese: 役員会 meeting
Korean: 위원회
Norwegian: styre
Polish: zarząd zebranie
European Portuguese: conselho de administração
Romanian: consiliude conducere
Russian: правление
Latin American Spanish: junta consejo de administración
Swedish: styrelse
Thai: คณะกรรมการ
Turkish: kurul
Ukrainian: правління
Vietnamese: ban hội đồng
British English: board /bɔːd/ NOUN
of wood or plastic A board is a flat piece of wood, plastic, or cardboard which is used for a particular purpose.
...a chopping board.
American English: board wood
Arabic: لَوْح
Brazilian Portuguese: tábua
Chinese: 木板
Croatian: daska
Czech: prkno
Danish: bræt
Dutch: plank
European Spanish: tablón
Finnish: lauta
French: planche
German: Brett
Greek: σανίδα
Italian: asse
Japanese: 板 wood
Korean: 판
Norwegian: planke
Polish: deska
European Portuguese: tábua
Romanian: placaj
Russian: доска
Latin American Spanish: tabla pieza de madera plana
Swedish: bräda
Thai: กระดาน
Turkish: tahta okul
Ukrainian: дошка
Vietnamese: tấm ván
British English: board VERB
When you board a train, ship, or aircraft, you get on it in order to travel somewhere.
I boarded the plane bound for the other coast.
American English: board
Brazilian Portuguese: embarcar em
Chinese: 登上火车、船或飞机
European Spanish: embarcar(se)
French: monter à bord de
German: einsteigen in
Italian: salire a bordo di
Japanese: 乗り込む
Korean: 타다
European Portuguese: embarcar em
Latin American Spanish: embarcar(se)
All related terms of 'board'
bed board
a thin, stiff board placed on a bed under the mattress to lend added support for the body
Big Board
the quotation board in the New York Stock Exchange
board out
If someone in your care is boarded out , they are sent to stay with someone else.
board up
If you board up a door or window , you fix pieces of wood over it so that it is covered up.
gas board
→ the gas board
Gib board
a type of lining board with a cardboard surface and a gypsum core
low board
a diving board 1 meter (3.2 feet) above the water
on board
When you are on board a train , ship, or aircraft, you are on it or in it.
Pay Board
a former government agency that controlled prices and wages
above board
An arrangement or deal that is above board is legal and is being carried out honestly and openly.
board foot
a unit of board measure: the cubic content of a piece of wood one foot square and one inch thick
board game
A board game is a game such as chess or backgammon, which people play by moving small objects around on a board.
board rule
a measuring device for estimating the number of board feet in a quantity of wood
draft board
a tribunal responsible for the selection of personnel liable for compulsory military service
emery board
a strip of cardboard or wood with a rough surface of crushed emery , for filing one's nails
exam board
an organization that sets and corrects exams , esp GCSEs and A levels
full board
If the price at a hotel includes full board , it includes all your meals.
half board
If you stay at a hotel and have half board , your breakfast and evening meal are included in the price of your stay at the hotel, but not your lunch .
high board
the diving board at the highest level in a swimming pool
idiot board
a board, placard , etc. bearing the lines to be spoken by a television performer, used in prompting
mood board
a board used by designers on which samples of various colours and textures are mounted to help in deciding which elements complement each other
otter board
any freshwater carnivorous musteline mammal of the subfamily Lutrinae, esp Lutra lutra ( Eurasian otter ), typically having smooth fur , a streamlined body, and webbed feet
Ouija board
A ouija board is a board with the letters of the alphabet written on it. It is used to ask questions which are thought to be answered by the spirits of dead people.
Smart Board
a large touch-sensitive board connected to a computer and a digital projector , used for teaching in the classroom
tilt board
a rectangular board mounted on a fulcrum , for use by acrobats and gymnasts to gain momentum in feats of tumbling
tote board
an electronic board that typically displays betting odds using the totalizator system
wokka board
a piece of fibreboard used as a musical instrument
arrival board
a board showing the time of arrival of planes , trains or buses
baffle board
a plate or mechanical device designed to restrain or regulate the flow of a fluid , the emission of light or sound, or the distribution of sound, esp in a loudspeaker or microphone
board bridge
a form of contract bridge , esp at clubs and in competitions , in which the hands are kept as dealt and played by different players. The partners with the highest average score are the winners
board measure
a system of units for measuring wood based on the board foot . 1980 board feet equal one standard
board meeting
a meeting of the board of a company or other organization
board member
a member of board of directors
board school
(formerly) a school managed by a board elected by local ratepayers
board shorts
shorts with longer legs, originally meant to protect a surfer's legs against the surfboard
boogie board
a surfboard that is shorter and blunter than the standard board and on which the surfer lies rather than stands
Bristol board
a heavy smooth cardboard of fine quality, used for printing and drawing
cheese board
A cheese board is a board from which cheese is served at a meal .
circuit board
A circuit board is the same as a → printed circuit board .
cutting board
A cutting board is a wooden or plastic board that you chop meat and vegetables on.
diving board
A diving board is a board high above a swimming pool from which people can dive into the water.
drawing board
A drawing board is a large flat board, often fixed to a metal frame so that it looks like a desk , on which you place your paper when you are drawing or designing something.
Faculty board
the governing body of a faculty
gypsum board
→ plasterboard
ironing board
An ironing board is a long narrow board covered with cloth on which you iron clothes.
leader board
a scoreboard listing the contestants who are currently leading a golf tournament , auto race, etc.
ledger board
a timber board forming the top rail of a fence or balustrade
malibu board
lightweight surfboard
medical board
a group of people qualified to give opinions on medical matters
message board
In computing , a message board is a system that allows users to send and receive messages of general interest.