box
1. box \'ba:ks\ n or box or box.es [ME, fr. OA, fr. L buxus, fr. Gk pyxos] pl : an evergreen shrub or small tree (genus Buxus of the family Buxace ae, the box family); esp : a widely cultivated shrub (B. sempervirens) used for hedges, borders, and topiary figures 2. box n [ME, fr. OE, fr. LL buxis, fr. Gk pyxis, fr. pyxos] 1a: a rigid typically rectangular receptacle often with a cover 1b: something having a flat bottom and four upright sides 1c: the contents of a box as a measure of quantity 1d: the driver's seat on a carriage or coach Brit 2: a gift in a box 3: a small compartment (as for a group of spectators in a theater) 4a: a boxlike receptacle (as for a bearing) 4b: a signaling apparatus with its enclosing case 5: a square or oblong division or compartment 6: a square or oblong hollow space or recess 7: a small simple sheltering or enclosing structure 8: printed matter enclosed by rules or white space 9: any of six spaces on a baseball diamond where the batter, coaches, pitch er, and catcher stand 10: PREDICAMENT, FIX 3. box vt 1: to furnish (as a wheel hub) with a box 2: to enclose in or as if in a box 3: BOXHAUL 4: to enclose with boarding or lathing so as to bring to a required form 5: to mix (paint) by pouring back and forth between two containers 1: to name the 32 points of the compass in their order 2: to make a complete reversal - box the compass 4. box n [ME] : a punch or slap esp. on the ear 5. box vt 1: to hit (as the ears) with the hand 2: to engage in boxing with : to fight with the fists : engage in boxing
Webster's English Dictionary