| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
pack1 (pæk) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a. a bundle or load, esp one carried on the back |
| b. (as modifier): a pack animal | |
| 2. | a collected amount of anything |
| 3. | a complete set of similar things, esp a set of 52 playing cards |
| 4. | a group of animals of the same kind, esp hunting animals: a pack of hounds |
| 5. | any group or band that associates together, esp for criminal purposes |
| 6. | rugby the forwards of a team or both teams collectively, as in a scrum or in rucking |
| 7. | the basic organizational unit of Cub Scouts and Brownie Guides |
| 8. | a. a small package, carton, or container, used to retail commodities, esp foodstuffs, cigarettes, etc |
| b. (in combination): pack-sealed | |
| 9. | (US), (Canadian) Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): packet a small or medium-sized container of cardboard, paper, etc, often together with its contents |
| 10. | short for pack ice |
| 11. | the quantity of something, such as food, packaged for preservation |
| 12. | med |
| a. a sheet or blanket, either damp or dry, for wrapping about the body, esp for its soothing effect | |
| b. a material such as cotton or gauze for temporarily filling a bodily cavity, esp to control bleeding | |
| 13. | backpack short for rucksack |
| 14. | mining a roof support, esp one made of rubble |
| 15. | short for face pack |
| 16. | a parachute folded and ready for use |
| 17. | computing another name for deck |
| 18. | informal (Austral), (NZ) go to the pack to fall into a lower state or condition |
| —vb (when passive, | |
| 19. | to place or arrange (articles) in (a container), such as clothes in a suitcase |
| 20. | (tr) to roll up into a bundle |
| 21. | to press tightly together; cram: the audience packed into the foyer; the hall was packed out |
| 22. | (tr; |
| 23. | to form (snow, ice, etc) into a hard compact mass or (of snow, ice, etc) to become compacted |
| 24. | (tr) to press in or cover tightly: to pack a hole with cement |
| 25. | (tr) to load (a horse, donkey, etc) with a burden |
| 26. | to send away or go away, esp hastily |
| 27. | (tr) to seal (a joint) by inserting a layer of compressible material between the faces |
| 28. | (tr) to fill (a bearing or gland) with grease to lubricate it |
| 29. | (tr) to separate (two adjoining components) so that they have a predetermined gap between them, by introducing shims, washers, plates, etc |
| 30. | (tr) med to treat with a pack |
| 31. | slang (tr) to be capable of inflicting (a blow): he packs a mean punch |
| 32. | informal (US) (tr) to carry or wear habitually: he packs a gun |
| 33. | rugby to form a scrum |
| 34. | (US), (Canadian), (NZ) (tr; |
| 35. | informal pack one's bags to get ready to leave |
| 36. | informal send packing to dismiss peremptorily |
| [C13: related to Middle Low German pak, of obscure origin] | |
| 'packable1 | |
| —adj | |
pack (pāk)
v. packed, pack·ing, packs
To fill, stuff, plug, or tampon.
To enwrap or envelop the body in a sheet, blanket, or other covering.
To apply a dressing or covering to a surgical site.
The swathing of a patient or a body part in hot, cold, wet, or dry materials, such as cloth towels, sheets, or blankets.
The materials so used.
An ice pack; an ice bag.
pack it in
Stop working or abandon an activity, as in Let's pack it in for the day. This usage alludes to packing one's things before departing, and during World War I became military slang for being killed. It also is used as an imperative ordering someone to stop, as in Pack it in! I've heard enough out of you. In Britain it is also put as pack it up. [Colloquial; early 1900s]