packing

American  

[pak-ing] / ˈpæk ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or work of a person or thing that packs.

2. the preparation and packaging of foodstuffs, especially to be sold at wholesale.

3. the way in which something is packed.

4. an act or instance of transporting supplies, goods, etc., on the backs of horses, mules, or persons.

5. material used to cushion or protect goods packed in a container.

6. material, often in the form of a grease-impregnated fibrous ring, compressed inside a stuffing box or the like to prevent leakage around the moving shaft of an engine, pump, or valve.

7. Printing. rubber, paper, or other material fastened to the tympan or cylinder of a press to provide pressure to produce a printed impression.

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packing British  

/ ˈpækɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. material used to cushion packed goods

   2. ( as modifier )

      a packing needle

2. the packaging of foodstuffs

3. med

   1. the application of a medical pack

   2. gauze or other absorbent material for packing a wound

4. printing sheets of material, esp paper, used to cover the platen or impression cylinder of a letterpress machine

5. any substance or material used to make watertight or gastight joints, esp in a stuffing box

6. engineering pieces of material of various thicknesses used to adjust the position of a component or machine before it is secured in its correct position or alignment

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Usage

What is packing? Packing is the act of grouping items into a container, especially for storing or moving the items. Packing can also describe the container or wrapping itself used to pack items. Example: The packing on this Christmas gift is too hard to get off!

Other Word Forms

• underpacking
  noun

Etymology

Origin of packing

1350–1400; Middle English pakking (gerund). See pack ¹, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Since 2006, independent sellers on Amazon's marketplace have used a program called Fulfillment by Amazon to let the company handle packing and shipping their orders.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Many predicted Diego Simeone's side would be sent packing by Spanish rivals Barcelona in the last eight, but the three-time finalists are back to their gritty best in this competition.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Modern computers handle increasing workloads by packing billions of identical transistors onto rigid, two-dimensional silicon chips.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

After the three-day Kern County raid, the association informed its members — growers, packing houses, farm labor contractors, nurseries and related businesses — that immigration agents need warrants to enter their properties.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

She looked over at Mark, who was packing his camera up.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

Related Words

• Styrofoam