pack

/pæk/

/pæk/

Other forms: packed; packing; packs

A pack is a container of something, especially one made of sturdy paper. You might run to the store for a pack of batteries for your new clock and a pack of crayons for your new coloring book.

As a noun, pack might seem like a shortened form of package, but it actually comes from a Germanic root that means "bundle." You can also use this word to mean "group of animals" or "group of criminals," while the verb pack means "fill a bag for a trip." You might pack a pack of cards when you travel across the country by train, since you'll have a lot of hours to fill.

Definitions of pack

1. noun

   a convenient package or parcel (as of cigarettes or film)
   type of:

   package, parcel

   a wrapped container
2. verb

   arrange in a container
   “pack the books into the boxes”

   antonyms:

   unpack

   remove from its packing

   types:

   containerise, containerize

   package in a container

   bag

   put into a bag

   bundle, bundle up, roll up

   make into a bundle

   stow

   fill by packing tightly

   pouch

   put into a small bag

   type of:

   case, encase, incase

   enclose in, or as if in, a case
3. verb

   have the property of being packable or of compacting easily
   “Such odd-shaped items do not pack well”

   synonyms: compact

   bundle, compact, wad

   compress into a wad

   type of:

   be

   have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
4. verb

   compress into a wad
   synonyms: bundle, compact, wad

   compact

   have the property of being packable or of compacting easily

   types:

   puddle

   work a wet mixture, such as concrete or mud

   type of:

   arrange, set up

   put into a proper or systematic order
5. verb

   press down tightly
   synonyms: tamp, tamp down

   type of:

   compact, compress, pack together

   make more compact by or as if by pressing
6. verb

   press tightly together or cram
   “The crowd packed the auditorium”

   synonyms: jam, mob, pile, throng

   type of:

   crowd, crowd together

   to gather together in large numbers
7. verb

   seal with packing
   “pack the faucet”

   type of:

   seal, seal off

   make tight; secure against leakage
8. verb

   fill to capacity
   “This singer always packs the concert halls”

   “The murder trial packed the court house”

   type of:

   fill, fill up, make full

   make full, also in a metaphorical sense
9. noun

   a complete collection of similar things
   types:

   disc pack, disk pack

   (computer science) a portable pack of magnetic disks used in a disk storage device

   deck, deck of cards, pack of cards

   a pack of 52 playing cards

   type of:

   accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collection

   several things grouped together or considered as a whole
10. noun

    a large indefinite number
    synonyms: battalion, large number, multitude, plurality

    type of:

    large indefinite amount, large indefinite quantity

    an indefinite quantity that is above the average in size or magnitude
11. noun

    a group of hunting animals
    types:

    wolf pack

    a group of wolves hunting together

    type of:

    animal group

    a group of animals
12. noun

    an association of criminals
    “a pack of thieves”

    synonyms: gang, mob, ring

    types:

    nest

    a gang of people (criminals or spies or terrorists) assembled in one locality

    youth gang

    a gang whose members are teenagers

    sleeper nest

    a nest of sleepers awaiting a prearranged signal

    type of:

    association

    a formal organization of people or groups of people
13. noun

    an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
    synonyms: camp, clique, coterie, ingroup, inner circle

    types:

    Bloomsbury Group

    an inner circle of writers and artists and philosophers who lived in or around Bloomsbury early in the 20th century and were noted for their unconventional lifestyles

    bohemia

    a group of artists and writers with real or pretended artistic or intellectual aspirations and usually an unconventional life style

    brain trust, kitchen cabinet

    an inner circle of unofficial advisors to the head of a government

    loop

    an inner circle of advisors (especially under President Reagan)

    cabal, camarilla, faction, junto

    a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue

    junta, military junta

    a group of military officers who rule a country after seizing power

    maffia, mafia

    any tightly knit group of trusted associates

    faction, sect

    a dissenting clique

    galere, rogue's gallery

    a coterie of undesirable people

    hard core

    the most dedicated and intensely loyal nucleus of a group or movement

    splinter group

    a faction or sect that has broken away from its parent organization

    left, left wing

    those who support varying degrees of social or political or economic change designed to promote the public welfare

    right, right wing

    those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged

    old guard

    a faction that is unwilling to accept new ideas

    pro-choice faction

    those who argue that the decision to have an induced abortion should be made by the mother

    pro-life faction

    those who argue that induced abortion is killing and should be prohibited

    type of:

    band, circle, lot, set

    an unofficial association of people or groups
14. verb

    treat the body or any part of it by wrapping it, as with blankets or sheets, and applying compresses to it, or stuffing it to provide cover, containment, or therapy, or to absorb blood
    “The nurse packed gauze in the wound”

    “You had better pack your swollen ankle with ice”

    type of:

    care for, treat

    provide treatment for
15. noun

    a sheet or blanket (either dry or wet) to wrap around the body for its therapeutic effect
    type of:

    corrective, restorative

    a device for treating injury or disease
16. noun

    a cream that cleanses and tones the skin
    synonyms: face pack

    type of:

    corrective, restorative

    a device for treating injury or disease
17. verb

    have with oneself; have on one's person
    synonyms: carry, take

    carry

    have or possess something abstract

    type of:

    feature, have

    have as a feature
18. verb

    carry, as on one's back
    “Pack your tents to the top of the mountain”

    type of:

    carry, transport

    move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
19. verb

    load with a pack
    synonyms: load down

    type of:

    lade, laden, load, load up

    fill or place a load on
20. verb

    hike with a backpack
    synonyms: backpack

    type of:

    hike

    walk a long way, as for pleasure or physical exercise
21. noun

    a bundle (especially one carried on the back)
    type of:

    bundle, sheaf

    a package of several things tied together for carrying or storing
22. verb

    set up a committee or legislative body with one's own supporters so as to influence the outcome
    “pack a jury”

    type of:

    appoint, constitute, name, nominate

    create and charge with a task or function