carton

/ˈkɑrtn/

/ˈkɑtən/

Other forms: cartons

A carton is a cardboard box or package. A pint of cream often comes in a carton.

There are many different kinds of cartons, but most of them are packaging for some kind of consumer product, particularly food. There are egg cartons, milk cartons, and cigarette cartons, all of which are different shapes and made out of slightly different types of paperboard or lightweight cardboard. Carton has its root in the Medieval Latin word carta, "paper."

Definitions of carton

1. noun

   a box made of cardboard; opens by flaps on top
   types:

   six pack, six-pack, sixpack

   a carton containing six bottles or cans

   type of:

   box

   a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
2. noun

   the quantity contained in a carton
   synonyms: cartonful

   type of:

   containerful

   the quantity that a container will hold