a group of things wrapped or tied together for easy handling or carrying; a bundle, especially one to be carried on the back of an animal or a person: a mule pack; a hiker's pack.
a definite quantity or standard measure of something wrapped up or otherwise assembled for merchandising (sometimes used in combination): a pack of cigarettes; a six-pack of beer.
the quantity of something that is packaged, canned, or the like, at one time, in one season, etc.: last year's salmon pack.
a group of people or things: a pack of fools; a pack of lies.
a group of certain animals of the same kind, especially predatory ones: a pack of wolves.
Hunting. a number of hounds, especially foxhounds and beagles, regularly used together in a hunt.
a complete set of playing cards, usually 52 in number; deck.
backpack (def. 1).
a considerable area of pieces of floating ice driven or packed together.
Metalworking. a pile of metal sheets for hot-rolling together.
Medicine/Medical.
a wrapping of the body in wet or dry clothes for therapeutic purposes.
the cloths so used.
Obsolete.the state of being so wrapped.
Mining.
Also called pack wall. a rubble wall for supporting a roof.
any of various other roof supports of timber, timber and rubble, or rubble and wire mesh.
a cosmetic material, usually of a pastelike consistency, applied either to the face or to the hair and scalp: a mud pack; a beauty pack; a henna pack.
pac2 (def. 1).
Obsolete. a plot; conspiracy.
Obsolete. a low or worthless person.
verb (used with object)
to make into a pack or bundle.
to form into a group or compact mass.
to fill with anything compactly arranged: to pack a trunk.
to put into or arrange compactly in a trunk, valise, etc., as for traveling or storage: I packed a two-week supply of clothes for the trip.
to press or crowd together within; cram: The crowd packed the gallery.
to prepare for marketing by putting into containers or packages: to pack fruit for shipping.
to make airtight, vaportight, or watertight by stuffing: to pack the piston of a steam engine.
to cover or envelop with something pressed closely around.
to load, as with packs: We packed the mules and then set off for the lake.
to carry or wear, especially as part of one's usual equipment: to pack a gun.
Informal. to deliver (a powerful blow, strong message, etc.): He packs a better punch than any heavyweight in years. His speech packed a powerful plea for peace.
to treat with a therapeutic pack.
verb (used without object)
to pack goods in compact form, as for transportation or storage (often followed by up).
to place clothes and personal items in a suitcase, trunk, etc., preparatory to traveling.
to be capable of or suitable for compact storage or packing for transportation: articles that pack well.
to crowd together, as persons: The audience packed into the auditorium.
to become compacted: Wet snow packs readily.
to collect into a group: The grouse began to pack.
adjective
transporting, or used in transporting, a pack or load: pack animals.
compressed into a pack; packed.
used in or adapted for packing: pack equipment.
Chiefly Scot.(of animals) tame.
Verb Phrases
pack in / upto relinquish or give up; quit: One failure was no reason to pack the whole experiment in.After thirty years of touring, the violinist packed his career up and retired.
pack off / away
to dispatch: We packed the kids off to camp for the summer.
to leave hastily.
Idioms for pack
pack it in,
to give up; abandon one's efforts: In 1972 we packed it in and moved back to Florida.
to cease being a nuisance.
Origin of pack
1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun pak, packe, from Middle Dutch pac, or perhaps Middle Low German pak; verb derivative of the noun
So what has “feminist” done to deserve its spot at the top of the pack?
Feminist, Bae, Turnt: Time’s ‘Worst Words’ List Is Sexist and Racist|Samantha Allen|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then Stella turned and ran again, with the clamor of the pack close behind her.
Ted Strong in Montana|Edward C. Taylor
Mr. Cummings glanced down, saw nothing, and when he looked up again the man with the pack had disappeared.
Myths And Legends Of Our Own Land, Complete|Charles M. Skinner
There were four of the pack animals, each laden with the party's gear.
The Caves of Fear|John Blaine
Eyes—he tried to count and knew it was impossible to so reckon the number of the pack that ran mute but ready.
Star Born|Andre Norton
Pack the roasting pieces, which you do not want soon, in a barrel of snow, and set it where it will not melt.
The Young Housekeeper's Friend|Mrs. (Mary Hooker) Cornelius
British Dictionary definitions for pack (1 of 2)
pack1
/ (pæk) /
noun
a bundle or load, esp one carried on the back
(as modifier)a pack animal
a collected amount of anything
a complete set of similar things, esp a set of 52 playing cards
a group of animals of the same kind, esp hunting animalsa pack of hounds
any group or band that associates together, esp for criminal purposes
rugbythe forwards of a team or both teams collectively, as in a scrum or in rucking
the basic organizational unit of Cub Scouts and Brownie Guides
a small package, carton, or container, used to retail commodities, esp foodstuffs, cigarettes, etc
(in combination)pack-sealed
US and Canadiana small or medium-sized container of cardboard, paper, etc, often together with its contentsAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): packet
short for pack ice
the quantity of something, such as food, packaged for preservation
med
a sheet or blanket, either damp or dry, for wrapping about the body, esp for its soothing effect
a material such as cotton or gauze for temporarily filling a bodily cavity, esp to control bleeding
short for backpack, rucksack
mininga roof support, esp one made of rubble
short for face pack
a parachute folded and ready for use
computing another name for deck (def. 5)
go to the packAustralian and NZinformalto fall into a lower state or condition
verb
to place or arrange (articles) in (a container), such as clothes in a suitcase
(tr)to roll up into a bundle
(when passive, often foll by out) to press tightly together; cramthe audience packed into the foyer; the hall was packed out
(tr; foll by in or into)to fit (many things, experiences, etc) into a limited space or timeshe packed a lot of theatre visits into her holiday
to form (snow, ice, etc) into a hard compact mass or (of snow, ice, etc) to become compacted
(tr)to press in or cover tightlyto pack a hole with cement
(tr)to load (a horse, donkey, etc) with a burden
(often foll by off or away) to send away or go away, esp hastily
(tr)to seal (a joint) by inserting a layer of compressible material between the faces
(tr)to fill (a bearing or gland) with grease to lubricate it
(tr)to separate (two adjoining components) so that they have a predetermined gap between them, by introducing shims, washers, plates, etc
(tr)medto treat with a pack
(tr)slangto be capable of inflicting (a blow)he packs a mean punch
(tr)USinformalto carry or wear habituallyhe packs a gun
(intr often foll by down) rugbyto form a scrum
(tr; often foll by into, to, etc)US, Canadian and NZto carry (goods), esp on the backwill you pack your camping equipment into the mountains?
pack one's bagsinformalto get ready to leave
send packinginformalto dismiss peremptorily
See also pack in, pack up
Derived forms of pack
packable, adjective
Word Origin for pack
C13: related to Middle Low German pak, of obscure origin
British Dictionary definitions for pack (2 of 2)
pack2
/ (pæk) /
verb
(tr)to fill (a legislative body, committee, etc) with one's own supportersto pack a jury