pack

UK: pæk | US: pæk

Definition

  1. n. a bundle of objects tied or wrapped together

  2. vt. to fill or load a container with items

  3. vi. to prepare belongings for transport

  4. n. a group of animals (e.g., wolves)

Structure
pack <to bundle, from Middle Dutch "pak">
Etymology

The word "pack" traces back to Middle Dutch pak (meaning "bundle" or "parcel"), likely influenced by Old Norse pakki. It entered English in the late medieval period, retaining its core idea of grouping or compressing items. The semantic extension to animal groups (e.g., "wolf pack") reflects the collective behavior metaphor.

Examples

  1. She bought a pack of gum at the store.

  2. He helped pack the boxes for the move.

  3. Wolves hunt in a coordinated pack.

  4. Remember to pack warm clothes for the trip.

  5. The hiker carried a heavy pack up the mountain.