carton

American  

[kahr-tn] / ˈkɑr tn /

noun

• cartons
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• uncartoned
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cartons
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of carton

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

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Explanation

A carton is a cardboard box or package. A pint of cream often comes in a carton. There are many different kinds of cartons, but most of them are packaging for some kind of consumer product, particularly food. There are egg cartons, milk cartons, and cigarette cartons, all of which are different shapes and made out of slightly different types of paperboard or lightweight cardboard. Carton has its root in the Medieval Latin word carta, "paper."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

carton cartons

"There are more safety rules for a carton of milk than for AI. There are more safety rules for your oven than for AI," he told the conference.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

But Smith said: "Right now, your washing machine is subject to more safety rules than AI. Every carton of milk that you see in the grocery store is subject to safety rules and inspection."

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

In December, Cincinnati Customs and Border Protection officers identified a master carton scheme from a Chinese shipper.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Instead, Luke loads up on protein — including nearly a carton of eggs to himself every morning for breakfast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

Dad is back in the kitchen, fetching a carton of milk.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins

The five-term senator said the categories of products receiving exemptions include corrugated paper cartons, plastic boxes, plastic bags, refrigeration and freezing equipment, packing and wrapping machinery, and seaweed and algae products.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

Police said they recovered more than 2,100 pairs of Nike shoes and 150 cartons of clothing worth an estimated $500,000.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Patz was the first missing child to be featured on milk cartons as part of a nationwide search.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

Influencers in cowboy hats chugged cartons of milk.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

Also, there were several cartons of cigarettes on the floor, and the clerk mentioned that several cartons of cigarettes were missing.

From "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers

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Related Words

• container
• crate
• packet

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