carton

American  

[kahr-tn] / ˈkɑr tn /

noun

1. a cardboard or plastic box used typically for storage or shipping.

2. the amount a carton can hold.

3. the contents of a carton.

4. a cardboardlike substance consisting of chewed plant material often mixed with soil, made by certain insects for building nests.

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verb (used with object)

1. to pack in a carton.

   to carton eggs for supermarket sales.

verb (used without object)

1. to make or form cardboard sheets into cartons.

carton British  

/ ˈkɑːtən /

noun

1. a cardboard box for containing goods

2. a container of waxed paper or plastic in which liquids, such as milk, are sold

3. shooting

   1. a white disc at the centre of a target

   2. a shot that hits this disc

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verb

1. to enclose (goods) in a carton

Other Word Forms

• uncartoned adjective

Etymology

Origin of carton

1780–90; < French < Italian cartone pasteboard; cartoon

Example Sentences

He reaches for his carton of milk — it’s empty.

From Los Angeles Times

He opened the door and a storage carton fell out.

From Literature

After a second, he decided to take the entire carton of milk back to his room, too.

From Literature

And with that she pushed a cart full of cartons toward him and handed him a marker.

From Literature

One of the man’s workers, a tall, skinny boy, carried them ashore in a cardboard carton on his head.

From Literature

Related Words

• container
• crate
• packet