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

California milk cartons may lose their coveted recycling symbol, the one with the chasing arrows, potentially threatening the existence of the ubiquitous beverage containers.

From Los Angeles Times

Restaurant supply stores and depots are treasure troves for the kinds of paper goods you see at bakeries and farmers’ markets: granola bags, pastry pouches, cookie boxes, cake cartons.

From Salon

I get that affordability is the message, and as someone who bought both a steak and a carton of milk this week, I understand just how powerful that issue is.

From Los Angeles Times

Ten days after the shipment was picked up, Urbandesi said the entire shipment—a total of 26 pallets and 1,092 cartons—had gone missing.

From The Wall Street Journal

If they were loose, she folded a carton in the shape of a heart to fill in the space.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• container
• crate
• packet