a number of things wrapped together for easy handling; a bundle:We loaded several packs on the donkeys.
backpack.
a definite amount of something sold, with its package:a pack of cigarettes.
a group of things:a pack of lies.
a group of animals of the same kind, esp. animals that hunt together:a pack of wolves.
a set of playing cards; a deck.
Medicinea cloth or small package used to wrap an injured part of the body for healing:put an ice pack on the bee sting.
v.
to make into a pack or bundle:[~ + object]He packed the snow into a hard ball.
to be easily made into a pack or any small, tight mass:[no object]Wet snow packs easily.
to fill (something) with suitable objects:[~ + object]to pack a trunk with clothes for the trip.
to put (clothes, etc.) into a case, etc., as for traveling or storage: [~ + object]to pack clothes for a trip.[no object]Haven't you packed yet?
to crowd together within; cram: [~ + object]The crowd packed the gallery.[~ +into+object]Thousands packed into the stadium to hear his farewell concert.
to carry or wear as part of one's usual equipment:[~ + object]In the U.S., police officers usually pack a gun.
Informal Termsto be able to deliver; to possess:[not: be + ~-ing;~ + object]This champion packs a mean punch.
pack in, [~ + object +in] to attract (people) in large numbers:The new movie was packing them in during its first week of showing.
pack in or up, to give up or give in; to abandon: [~ +in/up+object]to pack in one's career at age 35.[~ + object +in/up]deciding to pack it all in and retire.
pack off or away, to send away, often with speed or eagerness: [~ + object +off/away]to pack the kids off to camp.[~ +off/away+object]to pack off the kids to camp.
adj.[before a noun]
used for carrying a pack or load:a sturdy pack horse.
pack2/pæk/USA pronunciationv.[~ + object]
to choose, collect, or organize (cards, persons, etc.) so as to serve one's own purposes:to pack the jury with women jurors.
a group of things wrapped or tied together for easy handling or carrying; a bundle, esp. 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, esp. predatory ones: a pack of wolves.
SportHunting. a number of hounds, esp. foxhounds and beagles, regularly used together in a hunt.
Gamesa complete set of playing cards, usually 52 in number; deck.
backpack.
Geologya considerable area of pieces of floating ice driven or packed together.
Metallurgya pile of metal sheets for hot-rolling together.
MedicineMed.
a wrapping of the body in wet or dry clothes for therapeutic purposes.
the cloths so used.
Obs. the state of being so wrapped.
MiningMining.
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.
Clothinga 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.
Clothingpac2 (def. 1).
Obs. a plot; conspiracy.
Obs. a low or worthless person.
v.t.
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, esp. as part of one's usual equipment: to pack a gun.
Informal Termsto 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.
Medicineto treat with a therapeutic pack.
v.i.
to pack goods in compact form, as for transportation or storage (often fol. 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.
pack in or up, to 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.
Idiomspack it in:
Idiomsto give up; abandon one's efforts: In 1972 we packed it in and moved back to Florida.
Idiomsto cease being a nuisance.
pack off or away:
to dispatch: We packed the kids off to camp for the summer.
to leave hastily.
adj.
transporting, or used in transporting, a pack or load: pack animals.
compressed into a pack; packed.
used in or adapted for packing: pack equipment.
British TermsChiefly Scot. (of animals) tame.
Middle Dutch or Middle Low German
Middle Dutch pac or perh. Middle Low German pak; (verb, verbal) Middle English pakken
(noun, nominal) Middle English pak, packe 1175–1225
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See package.
4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged band, company, crew.
5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See flock1
pack2(pak),USA pronunciationv.t.
to choose, collect, arrange, or manipulate (cards, persons, facts, etc.) so as to serve one's own purposes: to pack the deck; to pack a jury.