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box
noun
A cuboid container, typically with four sides and a bottom, often with a lid (hinged or separate), used for storage, shipping, or organizing items. Can refer to the container and its contents together.
Etymology
Origin: Latin
Root: Ancient Greek πῠξίς (puxís), Proto-West Germanic *buhsā
Example
"She carefully packed her grandmother's china into a sturdy cardboard box before moving to her new apartment."
Usage Notes
Box is a versatile, neutral term spanning from cardboard shipping containers to elegant jewelry boxes. Register is universal - works in all contexts from casual to formal. Common in compounds: toolbox, mailbox, checkbox. Avoid confusion with 'boxing' (sport) or 'to box in' (restrict). The word carries no inherent connotations of quality or formality.