packing

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noun pack·ing \ ˈpa-kiŋ \

Definition of packing

1 a :the action or process of packing something; also :a method of packing

b :the processing of food and especially meat for future sale

2 :material (such as a covering or stuffing) used to protect packed goods (as for shipping); also :material used for making airtight or watertight

packing for a faucet

See packing defined for English-language learners

Examples of packing in a Sentence

We finished all our packing yesterday.
I used some old newspapers for packing.

Recent Examples of packing from the Web

Fickell was Ohio State interim coach in 2011, heaved into the fire after the Tattoogate tumult that sent longtime Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel packing.

— tom groeschen, Cincinnati.com, "UC QB: 'Definitely a lot different' than Tuberville era," 29 Aug. 2017
Tuesday's jaw-dropper was the latest instance, with the Cavaliers sending Kyrie Irving packing to the Celtics.

— andrew sharp and ben golliver, SI.com, "Is Anthony Davis the Celtics' End Game?," 25 Aug. 2017
Harvey is still about 300 miles off the Texas coastline in the southern Gulf of Mexico, packing winds of around 65 miles per hour.

— jen kirby, Daily Intelligencer, "Tropical Storm Harvey Is Rapidly Strengthening to Hurricane Status and Aiming Straight for the Texas Coast," 24 Aug. 2017
It can be done–as an infamous 2015 YouTube video of a homemade pistol-packing quadcopter showed—but the resulting recoil is enough to shove a small drone some distance, ruining any chance of a second shot.

— david hambling, Popular Mechanics, "When a Hobby Drone Becomes a Military Sniper," 16 Aug. 2017
A lack of product packaging also allows customers to smell and sample while reducing packing waste which would otherwise end up in landfills.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "Cosmetic mega god LUSH bucks big store trend, expands Louisville location," 11 Aug. 2017
Priebus's replacement as chief of staff, former Secretary of Homeland Security General John Kelly, asked the president to send the Mooch packing just like his mortal enemy, according to The New York Times.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "The Mooch Was Fired for Being Too Awesome," 31 July 2017
There’s the chaos surrounding the practical day-to-day—playdates, doctors’ appointments, packing and unpacking, and organizing mealtimes.

— jessica diehl, HWD, "Angelina Jolie Solo," 26 July 2017
Mr. Dagoum, who settled in New Haven, now works at a granite company, packing and shipping marble and tiles.

— miriam jordan, New York Times, "With 3 Words, Supreme Court Opens a World of Uncertainty for Refugees," 27 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'packing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of packing

14th century

PACKING Defined for English Language Learners

packing

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noun

Definition of packing for English Language Learners

: the act or process of putting things into bags or boxes
: material that is used to hold or protect things so that they can be moved or sent somewhere

Medical Dictionary

packing

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noun pack·ing \ ˈpak-iŋ \

medical Definition of packing

1 :the therapeutic application of a pack

hemorrhage…could not be controlled by suture or packing
—Journal of the American Medical Association

2 :the material used in packing

Learn More about packing

See words that rhyme with packing Spanish Central: Translation of packing Nglish: Translation of packing for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of packing for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about packing

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packing

Definition of packing

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First Known Use of packing

PACKING Defined for English Language Learners

packing

Definition of packing for English Language Learners

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packing

medical Definition of packing

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PACKING Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of packing for English Language Learners

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medical Definition of packing

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