Board /(bōrd)/

Board

n.
  1. A piece of timber sawed thin, and of considerable length and breadth as compared with the thickness, -- used for building, etc.
  2. A table to put food upon.
    Fruit of all kinds . . . She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand.
  3. Hence: What is served on a table as food; stated meals; provision; entertainment; -- usually as furnished for pay; as, to work for one's board; the price of board.
  4. A table at which a council or court is held.
    Both better acquainted with affairs than any other who sat then at that board.
    We may judge from their letters to the board.
    — Porteus.
  5. A square or oblong piece of thin wood or other material used for some special purpose, as, a molding board; a board or surface painted or arranged for a game; as, a chessboard; a backgammon board.
  6. Paper made thick and stiff like a board, for book covers, etc.; pasteboard; as, to bind a book in boards.
  7. The stage in a theater; as, to go upon the boards, to enter upon the theatrical profession.
  8. The border or side of anything. (Naut.)

Phrases & Compounds
The American Board
a shortened form of “The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions” (the foreign missionary society of the American Congregational churches).
Bed and board
See under Bed.
Board and board
side by side.
Board of control
six privy councilors formerly appointed to superintend the affairs of the British East Indies.
Board rule
a figured scale for finding without calculation the number of square feet in a board.
Board of trade
in England, a committee of the privy council appointed to superintend matters relating to trade. In the United States, a body of men appointed for the advancement and protection of their business interests; a chamber of commerce.
Board wages
Food and lodging supplied as compensation for services; as, to work hard, and get only board wages.
By the board
over the board, or side.
To go by the board
to suffer complete destruction or overthrow.
To enter on the boards
to have one's name inscribed on a board or tablet in a college as a student.
To make a good board
to sail in a straight line when close-hauled; to lose little to leeward.
To make short boards
to tack frequently.
On board
On shipboard; in a ship or a boat; on board of; as, I came on board early; to be on board ship.
Returning board
a board empowered to canvass and make an official statement of the votes cast at an election.

Board

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Boarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Boarding

  1. To cover with boards or boarding; as, to board a house.
  2. To go on board of, or enter, as a ship, whether in a hostile or a friendly way.
    You board an enemy to capture her, and a stranger to receive news or make a communication.
    — Totten.
  3. To enter, as a railway car. [Colloq. U. S.]
  4. To furnish with regular meals, or with meals and lodgings, for compensation; to supply with daily meals.
  5. To place at board, for compensation; as, to board one's horse at a livery stable.

Board

v. i.
  1. To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for compensation; as, he boards at the hotel.
    We are several of us, gentlemen and ladies, who board in the same house.
    — Spectator.

Board

v. t.
  1. To approach; to accost; to address; hence, to woo. [Obs.]
    I will board her, though she chide as loud As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.