box

Everyday

1. A box is a container with flat sides, often with a lid. tree →
2. A box is the amount a box holds: a box of crayons. tree →
3. A box is a square drawn on paper to write in: tick the box. tree →
4. To box is to fight with the fists in a sport, or to put into boxes. tree →
5. (casual, UK) «The box» means the television: what's on the box? tree →
6. (casual) «Think outside the box» means think in a new way; «tick all the boxes» means be just right. tree →
7. (rough) «Box someone's ears» means hit them on the head (old use); «boxed in» means trapped. tree →
8. (formal) The exam voice says «container», «carton», «crate», «receptacle», «cuboid». tree →

In the lessons

a container; one of several equal groups («5 boxes with 6 in each» = 5 × 6), or the boxes things are split into («equally into 4 boxes» = divide); on worksheets «write the answer in the box», «tick the box»; in everyday life lunch box, toy box, cardboard box, post box; in maths a cube or cuboid is a box shape; in casual talk «what's on the box», «outside the box»; in the exam voice «cartons», «crates», «a cuboid of dimensions …»

Examples

• Lily has 5 boxes with 6 marbles in each box. How many marbles does Lily have? tree →
• Max splits 24 stamps equally into 4 boxes. How many stamps go in each box? tree →
• There are 3 pens on the table and 4 in the box. tree →
• Put your toys back in the toy box. tree →
• Tick the box next to the right answer. tree →
• We packed our books into boxes when we moved. tree →
• A box of chocolates has 20 pieces. tree →
• The cat loves to sit in an empty box. tree →
• anything good on the box tonight? tree →
• crap, dropped the box, 3 eggs smashed tree →
• That idea ticks all the boxes. tree →
• A consignment of 5 cartons, each containing 6 marbles, is delivered; compute the aggregate number of marbles. tree →
• Labakan rose and looked at the boxes. tree →

Note

Plural «boxes» (add -es). A container is not a clue by itself. Trap: «N boxes with M in each box» = multiply; «splits … equally into N boxes» = divide; «on the table and in the box» = two parts to add. «dropped the box, 3 eggs smashed» means 3 fewer whole eggs: subtract. «the box» in UK casual talk can mean the TV. «carton» and «crate» in an exam are boxes too.