Definition: pack
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
pack
n 1: a large indefinite number; "a battalion of ants"; "a
multitude of TV antennas" [syn: battalion, large
number, multitude]
2: a complete collection of similar things
3: a small parcel (as of cigarettes or film)
4: an association of criminals; "police tried to break up the
gang"; "a pack of thieves" [syn: gang, ring, mob]
5: an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose [syn: clique,
coterie, ingroup, inner circle, camp]
6: a group of hunting animals
7: a cream that cleanses and tones the skin [syn: face pack]
8: a sheet or blanket (either dry or wet) to wrap around the
body for its therapeutic effect
9: a bundle (especially one carried on the back)
v 1: arrange in a container; "pack the books into the boxes"
[ant: unpack]
2: fill to capacity; "This singer always packs the concert
halls"; "They murder trial packed the court house"
3: compress into a wad; "wad paper into the box" [syn: bundle,
wad, compact]
4: carry, as on one's back; "Pack your tents to the top of the
mountain"
5: set up a committee or legislative body with one's own
supporters so as to influence the outcome; "pack a jury"
6: have with oneself; have on one's person; "She always takes
an umbrella"; "I always carry money"; "She packs a gun
when she goes into the mountains" [syn: carry, take]
7: press tightly together or cram; "The crowd packed the
auditorium" [syn: throng, mob, pile, jam]
8: hike with a backpack [syn: backpack]
9: press down tightly; "tamp the coffee grinds in the container
to make espresso" [syn: tamp down, tamp]
10: crowd or pack to capacity; "the theater was jampacked" [syn:
jam, jampack, ram, chock up, cram, wad]
11: seal with packing; "pack the faucet"
12: load with a pack [syn: load down]
13: 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"
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Pack \Pack\, n.
1. (Med.) In hydropathic practice, a wrapping of blankets or
sheets called dry pack, wet pack, cold pack, etc.,
according to the condition of the blankets or sheets used,
put about a patient to give him treatment; also, the fact
or condition of being so treated.
2. (Rugby Football) The forwards who compose one half of the
scrummage; also, the scrummage.
Pack and prime road or way, a pack road or bridle way.
Pack \Pack\, v. t. To cover, envelop, or protect tightly with something; specif. (Hydropathy), to envelop in a wet or dry sheet, within numerous coverings.
Pack \Pack\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Packed; p. pr. & vb. n. Packing.] [Akin to D. pakken, G. packen, Dan. pakke, Sw. packa, Icel. pakka. See Pack, n.] 1. To make a pack of; to arrange closely and securely in a pack; hence, to place and arrange compactly as in a pack; to press into close order or narrow compass; as to pack goods in a box; to pack fish. Strange materials packed up with wonderful art. --Addison. Where . . . the bones Of all my buried ancestors are packed. --Shak. 2. To fill in the manner of a pack, that is, compactly and securely, as for transportation; hence, to fill closely or to repletion; to stow away within; to cause to be full; to crowd into; as, to pack a trunk; the play, or the audience, packs the theater. 3. To sort and arrange (the cards) in a pack so as to secure the game unfairly.
Pack \Pack\, n. [Akin to D. pak, G. pack, Dan. pakke, Sw. packa, Icel. pakki, Gael. & Ir. pac, Arm. pak. Cf. Packet.] 1. A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back; a load for an animal; a bale, as of goods. --Piers Plowman. 2. [Cf. Peck, n.] A number or quantity equal to the contents of a pack; hence, a multitude; a burden. ``A pack of sorrows.'' ``A pack of blessings.'' --Shak. Note: ``In England, by a pack of meal is meant 280 lbs.; of wool, 240 lbs.'' --McElrath. 3. A number or quantity of connected or similar things; as: (a) A full set of playing cards; also, the assortment used in a particular game; as, a euchre pack. (b) A number of hounds or dogs, hunting or kept together. (c) A number of persons associated or leagued in a bad design or practice; a gang; as, a pack of thieves or knaves. (d) A shook of cask staves. (e) A bundle of sheet-iron plates for rolling simultaneously. 4. A large area of floating pieces of ice driven together more or less closely. --Kane. 5. An envelope, or wrapping, of sheets used in hydropathic practice, called dry pack, wet pack, cold pack, etc., according to the method of treatment. 6. [Prob. the same word; but cf. AS. p?can to deceive.] A loose, lewd, or worthless person. See Baggage. [Obs.] --Skelton. Pack animal, an animal, as a horse, mule, etc., employed in carrying packs. Pack cloth, a coarse cloth, often duck, used in covering packs or bales. Pack horse. See Pack animal (above). Pack ice. See def. 4, above. Pack moth (Zo["o]l.), a small moth (Anacampsis sarcitella) which, in the larval state, is very destructive to wool and woolen fabrics. Pack needle, a needle for sewing with pack thread. --Piers Plowman. Pack saddle, a saddle made for supporting the load on a pack animal. --Shak. Pack staff, a staff for supporting a pack; a peddler's staff. Pack thread, strong thread or small twine used for tying packs or parcels. Pack train (Mil.), a troop of pack animals.
Pack \Pack\, n. [Cf. Pact.] A pact. [Obs.] --Daniel.
Pack \Pack\, v. i.
1. To make up packs, bales, or bundles; to stow articles
securely for transportation.
2. To admit of stowage, or of making up for transportation or
storage; to become compressed or to settle together, so as
to form a compact mass; as, the goods pack conveniently;
wet snow packs well.
3. To gather in flocks or schools; as, the grouse or the
perch begin to pack. [Eng.]
4. To depart in haste; -- generally with off or away.
Poor Stella must pack off to town --Swift.
You shall pack, And never more darken my doors
again. --Tennyson.
5. To unite in bad measures; to confederate for ill purposes;
to join in collusion. [Obs.] ``Go pack with him.'' --Shak.
To send packing, to drive away; to send off roughly or in
disgrace; to dismiss unceremoniously. ``The parliament . .
. presently sent him packing.'' --South.
