bow|ler /boʊ lə r / (bowlers ) N‑COUNT The bowler in a sport such as cricket is the player who is bowling the ball. □ He's a rather good fast bowler.
bo w|ler ha t (bowler hats ) N‑COUNT A bowler hat is a round, hard, black hat with a narrow brim which is worn by men, especially British businessmen. Bowler hats are no longer very common. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use derby
bowl|ful /boʊ lfʊl/ (bowlfuls ) N‑COUNT The contents of a bowl can be referred to as a bowlful of something. □ [+ of ] They ate a large bowlful of cereal. □ I had a mixed salad–a huge bowlful for £3.20.
bowl|ing /boʊ l I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Bowling is a game in which you roll a heavy ball down a narrow track towards a group of wooden objects and try to knock down as many of them as possible. □ I go bowling for relaxation.
2 N‑UNCOUNT In a sport such as cricket, bowling is the action or activity of bowling the ball towards the batsman.
bo wl|ing al|ley (bowling alleys ) N‑COUNT A bowling alley is a building which contains several tracks for bowling.
bo wl|ing green (bowling greens ) N‑COUNT A bowling green is an area of very smooth, short grass on which the game of bowls or lawn bowling is played.
bow tie /boʊ ta I / (bow ties ) also bow-tie N‑COUNT A bow tie is a tie in the form of a bow. Bow ties are worn by men, especially for formal occasions.
box ◆◆◇ /bɒ ks/ (boxes , boxing , boxed )
1 N‑COUNT A box is a square or rectangular container with hard or stiff sides. Boxes often have lids. □ He reached into the cardboard box beside him. □ They sat on wooden boxes. □ …the box of tissues on her desk. ● N‑COUNT A box of something is an amount of it contained in a box. □ [+ of ] She ate two boxes of liqueurs.
2 N‑COUNT A box is a square or rectangle that is printed or drawn on a piece of paper, a road, or on some other surface.
3 N‑SING In football, the box is the penalty area of the field. □ He scored from the penalty spot after being brought down in the box.
4 N‑COUNT A box is a small separate area in a theatre or at a sports ground or stadium, where a small number of people can sit to watch the performance or game.
5 N‑SING Television is sometimes referred to as the box . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Do you watch it live at all or do you watch it on the box?
6 N‑COUNT Box is used before a number as a postal address by organizations that receive a lot of mail. □ …Country Crafts, Box 111, Landisville.
7 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Box is a small evergreen tree with dark leaves which is often used to form hedges. □ …box hedges.
8 VERB To box means to fight someone according to the rules of boxing. □ [V ] At school I boxed and played rugby. □ [V n] The two fighters had previously boxed a 12-round match.
9 → see also boxed , boxing , black box , chocolate-box , lunch box , phone box , postbox , post office box , sentry box , signal box , telephone box
▸ box in
1 PHRASAL VERB If you are boxed in , you are unable to move from a particular place because you are surrounded by other people or cars. □ [be V -ed P ] Armstrong was boxed in with 300 metres to go. □ [V n P ] The black cabs cut in front of them, trying to box them in.
2 PHRASAL VERB If something boxes you in , it puts you in a situation where you have very little choice about what you can do. □ [V n P ] Part of winning a mandate is having clear goals and not boxing yourself in. □ [V P n] We are not trying to box anybody in, we are trying to find a satisfactory way forward. ● boxed in ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ The Chancellor is boxed in by inflation targets and sterling.
box|car /bɒ kskɑː r / (boxcars ) N‑COUNT A boxcar is a railway carriage, often without windows, which is used to carry luggage, goods, or mail. [AM ] in BRIT, use van
boxed /bɒ kst/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A boxed set or collection of things is sold in a box. □ … a boxed set of six cups and saucers. □ This boxed collection captures 64 of the greatest modern love songs.
2 → see also box
box|er /bɒ ksə r / (boxers ) N‑COUNT A boxer is someone who takes part in the sport of boxing.
bo x|er shorts N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Boxer shorts are loose-fitting men's underpants that are shaped like the shorts worn by boxers.
box|ing /bɒ ks I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Boxing is a sport in which two people wearing large padded gloves fight according to special rules.
Bo x|ing Day N‑UNCOUNT Boxing Day is the 26th of December, the day after Christmas Day. [BRIT ]
bo x|ing glove (boxing gloves ) N‑COUNT Boxing gloves are big padded gloves worn for boxing.
bo x|ing ring (boxing rings ) N‑COUNT A boxing ring is a raised square platform with ropes around it in which boxers fight.
bo x lunch (box lunches ) N‑COUNT A box lunch is food, for example sandwiches, which you take to work, to school, or on a trip and eat as your lunch. [AM ] in BRIT, use packed lunch
bo x num|ber (box numbers ) N‑COUNT A box number is a number used as an address, for example one given by a newspaper for replies to a private advertisement, or one used by an organization for the letters sent to it.