board
♦♦ board /b'ɔːrd/ (boards boarding boarded)
1 [N-COUNT] usu n N
A board is a flat, thin, rectangular piece of wood or plastic which is used for a particular purpose.
...a chopping board.
2 [N-COUNT]
A board is a square piece of wood or stiff cardboard that you use for playing games such as chess.
...a draughts board...
3 [N-COUNT]
You can refer to a blackboard or a noticeboard as a board.
He wrote a few more notes on the board.
4 [N-COUNT]
Boards are long flat pieces of wood which are used, for example, to make floors or walls.
The floor was draughty bare boards.
5 [N-COUNT] oft the N in sing
The board of a company or organization is the group of people who control it and direct it. (BUSINESS)
Arthur wants to put his recommendation before the board at a meeting tomorrow.
...the agenda for the September 12 board meeting.
see also board of directors
= management
6 [N-COUNT] usu the n N
Board is used in the names of various organizations which are involved in dealing with a particular kind of activity.
The Scottish Tourist Board said 33,000 Japanese visited Scotland last year.
...the US National Transportation Safety Board.
7 [VERB] V n, also V
When you board a train, ship, or aircraft, you get on it in order to travel somewhere. (FORMAL)
I boarded the plane bound for England.
= get on
8 [N-UNCOUNT]
Board is the food which is provided when you stay somewhere, for example in a hotel.
Free room and board are provided for all hotel staff.
9
see also bulletin board
10 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
An arrangement or deal that is above board is legal and is being carried out honestly and openly.
All I knew about were Antony's own financial dealings, which were always above board.
11 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v, PHR n
If a policy or a situation applies across the board, it affects everything or everyone in a particular group.
There are hefty charges across the board for one-way rental...
The President promised across-the-board tax cuts if re-elected.
12 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something goes by the board, it is rejected or ignored, or is no longer possible.
It's a case of not what you know but who you know in this world today and qualifications quite go by the board.
13 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR, oft PHR n
When you are on board a train, ship, or aircraft, you are on it or in it.
They arrived at Gatwick airport on board a plane chartered by the Italian government...
...a naval task force with two thousand marines on board.
14 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone sweeps the board in a competition or election, they win nearly everything that it is possible to win.
Spain swept the board in boys' team competitions.
15 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you take on board an idea or a problem, you begin to accept it or understand it.
I hope that they will take on board some of what you have said.board and lodg|ing
[N-UNCOUNT]
If you are provided with board and lodging, you are provided with food and a place to sleep, especially as part of the conditions of a job.
You get a big salary incentive and free board and lodging too.board game (board games)
also board-game
[N-COUNT]
A board game is a game such as chess or backgammon, which people play by moving small objects around on a board.
...a new board game played with dice.board of di|rec|tors (boards of directors)
[N-COUNT]
A company's board of directors is the group of people elected by its shareholders to manage the company. (BUSINESS)
The Board of Directors has approved the decision unanimously.board up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you board up a door or window, you fix pieces of wood over it so that it is covered up.
Shopkeepers have boarded up their windows.
● boarded up [ADJ]
Half the shops are boarded up on the estate's small shopping street.bul|letin board (bulletin boards)
1 [N-COUNT]
A bulletin board is a board which is usually attached to a wall in order to display notices giving information about something. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use noticeboard)
2 [N-COUNT]
In computing, a bulletin board is a system that enables users to send and receive messages of general interest. (COMPUTING)
The Internet is the largest computer bulletin board in the world.chop|ping board (chopping boards)
[N-COUNT]
A chopping board is a wooden or plastic board that you chop meat and vegetables on. (BRIT; in AM, usually use cutting board)cir|cuit board (circuit boards)
[N-COUNT]
A circuit board is the same as a printed circuit board.cut|ting board (cutting boards)
[N-COUNT]
A cutting board is a wooden or plastic board that you chop meat and vegetables on. (AM; in BRIT, usually use chopping board)div|ing board (diving boards)
[N-COUNT]
A diving board is a board high above a swimming pool from which people can dive into the water.drain|ing board (draining boards)
[N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
The draining board is the place on a sink unit where things such as cups, plates, and cutlery are put to drain after they have been washed. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use drainboard)draughts board (draughts boards)
also draught board
[N-COUNT]
A draughts board is a square board for playing draughts, with 64 equal-sized, black and white squares. (BRIT; in AM, use checkerboard)draw|ing board (drawing boards)
in AM, use drawing-board
1 [N-COUNT]
A drawing board is a large flat board, often fixed to a metal frame so that it looks like a desk, on which you place your paper when you are drawing or designing something.
2 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you say that you will have to go back to the drawing board, you mean that something which you have done has not been successful and that you will have to start again or try another idea.full board
also full-board
[N-UNCOUNT]
If the price at a hotel includes full board, it includes all your meals. (mainly BRIT)half board
[N-UNCOUNT]
If you stay at a hotel and have half board, your breakfast and evening meal are included in the price of your stay at the hotel, but not your lunch. (mainly BRIT)iron|ing board (ironing boards)
[N-COUNT]
An ironing board is a long narrow board covered with cloth on which you iron clothes.mor|tar board (mortar boards)
also mortarboard
[N-COUNT]
A mortar board is a stiff black cap which has a flat square top with a bunch of threads attached to it. In Britain, mortar boards are sometimes worn on formal occasions by university students and teachers. In the United States, mortar boards are worn by students at graduation ceremonies at high schools, colleges, and universities.oui|ja board /w'iːdʒə bɔːrd/ (ouija boards)
[N-COUNT]
A ouija board is a board with the letters of the alphabet written on it. It is used to ask questions which are thought to be answered by the spirits of dead people.print|ed cir|cuit board (printed circuit boards)
[N-COUNT]
A printed circuit board is an electronic circuit in which some of the parts and connections consist of thin metal lines and shapes on a thin board. (TECHNICAL)re|view board (review boards)
[N-COUNT]
A review board is a group of people in authority who examine a situation or system to see if it should be improved, corrected, or changed.school board (school boards)
[N-COUNT-COLL]
A school board is a committee in charge of education in a particular city or area, or in a particular school, especially in the United States. (AM)
Colonel Richard Nelson served on the school board until this year.skirt|ing board (skirting boards)
[N-VAR]
Skirting board or skirting is a narrow length of wood which goes along the bottom of a wall in a room and makes a border between the walls and the floor. (BRIT; in AM, use baseboard)sound|ing board (sounding boards)
[N-COUNT]
If you use someone as a sounding board, you discuss your ideas with them in order to get another opinion.
He needed a sounding board rather than thinking alone.
1 [N-COUNT] usu n N
A board is a flat, thin, rectangular piece of wood or plastic which is used for a particular purpose.
...a chopping board.
2 [N-COUNT]
A board is a square piece of wood or stiff cardboard that you use for playing games such as chess.
...a draughts board...
3 [N-COUNT]
You can refer to a blackboard or a noticeboard as a board.
He wrote a few more notes on the board.
4 [N-COUNT]
Boards are long flat pieces of wood which are used, for example, to make floors or walls.
The floor was draughty bare boards.
5 [N-COUNT] oft the N in sing
The board of a company or organization is the group of people who control it and direct it. (BUSINESS)
Arthur wants to put his recommendation before the board at a meeting tomorrow.
...the agenda for the September 12 board meeting.
see also board of directors
= management
6 [N-COUNT] usu the n N
Board is used in the names of various organizations which are involved in dealing with a particular kind of activity.
The Scottish Tourist Board said 33,000 Japanese visited Scotland last year.
...the US National Transportation Safety Board.
7 [VERB] V n, also V
When you board a train, ship, or aircraft, you get on it in order to travel somewhere. (FORMAL)
I boarded the plane bound for England.
= get on
8 [N-UNCOUNT]
Board is the food which is provided when you stay somewhere, for example in a hotel.
Free room and board are provided for all hotel staff.
9
see also bulletin board
10 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
An arrangement or deal that is above board is legal and is being carried out honestly and openly.
All I knew about were Antony's own financial dealings, which were always above board.
11 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v, PHR n
If a policy or a situation applies across the board, it affects everything or everyone in a particular group.
There are hefty charges across the board for one-way rental...
The President promised across-the-board tax cuts if re-elected.
12 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something goes by the board, it is rejected or ignored, or is no longer possible.
It's a case of not what you know but who you know in this world today and qualifications quite go by the board.
13 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR, oft PHR n
When you are on board a train, ship, or aircraft, you are on it or in it.
They arrived at Gatwick airport on board a plane chartered by the Italian government...
...a naval task force with two thousand marines on board.
14 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone sweeps the board in a competition or election, they win nearly everything that it is possible to win.
Spain swept the board in boys' team competitions.
15 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you take on board an idea or a problem, you begin to accept it or understand it.
I hope that they will take on board some of what you have said.board and lodg|ing
[N-UNCOUNT]
If you are provided with board and lodging, you are provided with food and a place to sleep, especially as part of the conditions of a job.
You get a big salary incentive and free board and lodging too.board game (board games)
also board-game
[N-COUNT]
A board game is a game such as chess or backgammon, which people play by moving small objects around on a board.
...a new board game played with dice.board of di|rec|tors (boards of directors)
[N-COUNT]
A company's board of directors is the group of people elected by its shareholders to manage the company. (BUSINESS)
The Board of Directors has approved the decision unanimously.board up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you board up a door or window, you fix pieces of wood over it so that it is covered up.
Shopkeepers have boarded up their windows.
● boarded up [ADJ]
Half the shops are boarded up on the estate's small shopping street.bul|letin board (bulletin boards)
1 [N-COUNT]
A bulletin board is a board which is usually attached to a wall in order to display notices giving information about something. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use noticeboard)
2 [N-COUNT]
In computing, a bulletin board is a system that enables users to send and receive messages of general interest. (COMPUTING)
The Internet is the largest computer bulletin board in the world.chop|ping board (chopping boards)
[N-COUNT]
A chopping board is a wooden or plastic board that you chop meat and vegetables on. (BRIT; in AM, usually use cutting board)cir|cuit board (circuit boards)
[N-COUNT]
A circuit board is the same as a printed circuit board.cut|ting board (cutting boards)
[N-COUNT]
A cutting board is a wooden or plastic board that you chop meat and vegetables on. (AM; in BRIT, usually use chopping board)div|ing board (diving boards)
[N-COUNT]
A diving board is a board high above a swimming pool from which people can dive into the water.drain|ing board (draining boards)
[N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
The draining board is the place on a sink unit where things such as cups, plates, and cutlery are put to drain after they have been washed. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use drainboard)draughts board (draughts boards)
also draught board
[N-COUNT]
A draughts board is a square board for playing draughts, with 64 equal-sized, black and white squares. (BRIT; in AM, use checkerboard)draw|ing board (drawing boards)
in AM, use drawing-board
1 [N-COUNT]
A drawing board is a large flat board, often fixed to a metal frame so that it looks like a desk, on which you place your paper when you are drawing or designing something.
2 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you say that you will have to go back to the drawing board, you mean that something which you have done has not been successful and that you will have to start again or try another idea.full board
also full-board
[N-UNCOUNT]
If the price at a hotel includes full board, it includes all your meals. (mainly BRIT)half board
[N-UNCOUNT]
If you stay at a hotel and have half board, your breakfast and evening meal are included in the price of your stay at the hotel, but not your lunch. (mainly BRIT)iron|ing board (ironing boards)
[N-COUNT]
An ironing board is a long narrow board covered with cloth on which you iron clothes.mor|tar board (mortar boards)
also mortarboard
[N-COUNT]
A mortar board is a stiff black cap which has a flat square top with a bunch of threads attached to it. In Britain, mortar boards are sometimes worn on formal occasions by university students and teachers. In the United States, mortar boards are worn by students at graduation ceremonies at high schools, colleges, and universities.oui|ja board /w'iːdʒə bɔːrd/ (ouija boards)
[N-COUNT]
A ouija board is a board with the letters of the alphabet written on it. It is used to ask questions which are thought to be answered by the spirits of dead people.print|ed cir|cuit board (printed circuit boards)
[N-COUNT]
A printed circuit board is an electronic circuit in which some of the parts and connections consist of thin metal lines and shapes on a thin board. (TECHNICAL)re|view board (review boards)
[N-COUNT]
A review board is a group of people in authority who examine a situation or system to see if it should be improved, corrected, or changed.school board (school boards)
[N-COUNT-COLL]
A school board is a committee in charge of education in a particular city or area, or in a particular school, especially in the United States. (AM)
Colonel Richard Nelson served on the school board until this year.skirt|ing board (skirting boards)
[N-VAR]
Skirting board or skirting is a narrow length of wood which goes along the bottom of a wall in a room and makes a border between the walls and the floor. (BRIT; in AM, use baseboard)sound|ing board (sounding boards)
[N-COUNT]
If you use someone as a sounding board, you discuss your ideas with them in order to get another opinion.
He needed a sounding board rather than thinking alone.