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Box vs Crack - What's the difference?

box | crack | Related terms |

In informal terms the difference between box and crack

is that box is box lacrosse while crack is an attempt at something.

In transitive terms the difference between box and crack

is that box is to fight against (a person) in a boxing match while crack is to tell (a joke).

In transitive computing terms the difference between box and crack

is that box is to place a value of a primitive type into a corresponding object while crack is to circumvent software restrictions such as regional coding or time limits.

In intransitive terms the difference between box and crack

is that box is to participate in boxing; to be a boxer while crack is to make a sharply humorous comment.

As an adjective crack is

highly trained and competent.

box

English

(wikipedia box)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) box, from (etyl) .

Noun

(boxes)
  • A space; a container, usually with a hinged lid.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
    • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=1 citation , passage=The huge square box , parquet-floored and high-ceilinged, had been arranged to display a suite of bedroom furniture designed and made in the halcyon days of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, […].}}
  • As much as fills a such a container.
  • A compartment of a storage furniture, or of a part of such a furniture, such as of a drawer, shelving, etc.
  • A compartment to sit in at a theater, courtroom or auditorium.
  • A small rectangular shelter like a booth.
    • a sentry box
  • A rectangle.
    • Place a tick or a cross in the box .
    This text would stand out better if we put it in a box of colour.
  • An input field on an interactive electronic display.
  • A numbered receptacle at a newspaper office for anonymous replies to advertisements.
  • A trap or predicament.
  • The driver's seat on a coach.
  • (cricket)  A hard protector for the genitals worn by a batsman or close fielder inside the underpants.
  • (engineering)  A cylindrical casing around for example a bearing or gland.
  • (football)  The penalty area.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Chris Whyatt , title=Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton , work=BBC citation , passage=Poised link-up play between Essien and Lampard set the Ghanaian midfielder free soon after but his left-footed shot from outside the box was too weak.}}
  • (computing, slang)  A computer, or the case in which it is housed.
  •   .
  • (slang, offensive)  The vagina.
  • (euphemistic)  Coffin.
  • (juggling)  A pattern usually performed with three balls where the movements of the balls make a boxlike shape.
  • Horse box.
  • * 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 22[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/22]
    • He was a fine-looking middle-aged man, and his voice said at once that he expected to be obeyed. He was very friendly and polite to John, and after giving us a slight look, he called a groom to take us to our boxes , and invited John to take some refreshment.
  • (baseball) The rectangle in which the stands.
  • A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue.
  • (dated) A small country house.
    • a shooting box
    (Wilson)
  • * Cowper
    • tight boxes neatly sashed
  • (informal) box lacrosse
    • Usage notes
    * (computer) The whimsical plural (boxen) is occasionally used.
    Synonyms
    * (rectangular container) case, package * (as much as fills a box) boxful * (compartment to sit in) loge * (small shelter like a booth) shelter * (input field on an electronic display) text box * (sense, driver's seat on a coach) box seat * gash, pussy, twat * (television) telly (UK), tube, TV * computer, machine * (protector for the genitals) cup (US)
    Derived terms
    * airbox * apple-box * axle-box * ballot box * bandbox * beatbox * be in a box * be in the same box * be in the wrong box * bento box * bitty box * black box * blue box * boom box, boom-box, boombox * box and needle * box-anneal * box-annealing * box-back * boxball * box-barrage * box-beam * box-bed * box-bill * box-board, boxboard * box-club * box camera * box canyon * box-car, boxcar * box-cart * box-chronometer * box-churn * box-cloth * box-club * box coat * box-coil * box-colored, box-coloured * box-coupling * box-crab * box-cutter * box-day * box-desk * box-drain * boxen * box end wrench * boxer * box-feeding * box file * box-fish, boxfish * box-fitter * box-food * box frame, box-frame * boxful * box girder * box-grain * box-groove * box guitar * box-hand * box-hat * box-head, boxhead * box-hook * box-house * box-iron * box jellyfish * box junction * box-keeper, boxkeeper * box-keeperess * box-key * box kite * box lacrosse * boxlock * box-letter * box-level * box-lobby * box-loom * box lunch * box lyre * box magazine * boxmaker, boxmaking * box-man * box-master * box-mattress * box-meat * box-metal * box-money * box-motion * box number * box-nut * a box of birds * box of chocolates * box office, box-office * box of matches * box-ottoman * box-oyster * box-plan * box pleat * box-pleated * box-pleating * box profits * box-rent * box room, box-room, boxroom * box score * box seat, box-seat * box set, box-set * box-shutter * box-slater * box-sleigh * box social * box spanner * box spread * box spring, box-spring * box-square * box-stair * box-staircase * box stall * box-standard * box-staple * box step * box-stone * box-strap * box-string * box-swivel * box-tail * box-tappet * box-tenon * box-ticking * box-timbering * box-toe * box-tool * box top, box-top * box-tortoise * box-trap * box-tricycle * box turtle * box-valve * box-van * box-wagon * box-wallah * box wrench, box-wrench * boxy * brain box, brain-box, brainbox * breadbox * CAAT box * cable box * call box, call-box * cardboard box * cartridge-box * cash-box, cashbox * chatterbox * check box (checkbox) * Chinese boxes * chocolate-box * Christmas box * cigar box * clack-box * coachbox * coal-box * coin-box * collecting box * color-box, colour-box * comb-box * combo box (combobox) * coolbox * coupling-box * cracker-box * dead-letter box * deed-box * dialog box * dice-box, dicebox * dirt-box * dispatch-box * ditty-box * dog-box, dogbox * dredge-box * dredging-box * dressing-box * dressing-up box * drink box * driving-box * dumb as a box of rocks * dust-box * egg-box * embox * feed-box * feeding-box * fire-box, firebox * first-aid box * fishing box * flush-box * front box * fuse-box, fusebox * fuzz box, fuzzbox * gearbox * GC box * glory box * glove box, glovebox * goggle-box * Goldberg-Hogness box, Hogness box * grass box * hat-box, hatbox * hay-box, haybox * hell-box, hellbox * homeobox, homoeobox * horse box, horse-box, horsebox * hot box, hotbox * hunting box * icebox * idiot box * in-box, inbox * Jack-in-a-box, Jack-in-the-box, jack-in-the-box * jewel box, jewel-box * journal box * juice box * junction-box * jukebox * jury box * knife-box * knock out of the box * letterbox * light box * list box * live-box * lockbox * loose box, loosebox * love box * lunch box, lunch-box, lunchbox * magic box * mail-box, mailbox * marmalade box * matchbox * missionary-box * miter box, mitre box * money box, moneybox * moss-box * mud box * muscle-box * musical box * music-box * nest-box * nesting box * omnibus box * one out of the box * out-box, outbox * out of the box * packing box * paddle-box * paint box, paintbox * Pandora’s box * patch-box * pay box * peg-box * pegbox * penalty box * pepperbox * phone box * pillar box, pillar-box * pillbox * play-box, playbox * PO box * police box * poor box * post-box, postbox * post-office box * potato-box * pounce-box * pouncet-box * powder-box * power box * prattle-box * press box, press-box * private box * prompt-box * prompter's box * property box * puff box * rattlebox * resistance-box * safe-deposit box, safety-deposit box * salt-box, saltbox * sandbox * saucebox * savings-box * scent-box * search box * seed-box, seedbox * sentry box * set-top box * shoe-box, shoebox * shooting box * show-box * side box, side-box * signal box * Skinner box * six-yard box * skybox * sluice-box * slushbox * smoke-box, smokebox * snow box * snuffbox * soap-box, soapbox * sound box, sound-box, soundbox * spice-box * spitbox * spurious box * squawk box, squawk-box, squawkbox * squeeze-box, squeezebox * stage box * strong-box, strongbox * stuffing box, stuffing-box * sugar-box * suggestion box * swear box * sweat-box, sweatbox * swell box * tar-box * TATA box * T-box * telephone box * tell-box * text box (textbox) * thunder-box * tick all the boxes * tick box * tinder box, tinder-box, tinderbox * tobacco-box * toolbox * touch-box * tuck box * tucker-box * tumbling box, tumbling-box * unbox * upper box * vanity box, vanity-box * versing box * voice box, voice-box * wagon box * watch-box * weather-box * weigh-box * the whole box and dice * window-box * wine box * witness box, witness-box * work-box, workbox * writing-box * Yerkes discrimination box * yogibogeybox
    Descendants
    * Portuguese:

    Verb

    (es)
  • To place inside a box; to pack in boxes.
  • (usually with 'in') To hem in.
  • (computing) To place a value of a primitive type into a corresponding object.
  • To mix two containers of paint of similar color to ensure that the color is identical.
  • To furnish (e.g. a wheel) with boxes.
  • (architecture) To enclose with boarding, lathing, etc., so as to bring to a required form.
  • To make an incision or hole in (a tree) for the purpose of procuring the sap.
    • Synonyms
    * (to place inside a box) box up, case, embox, encase, pack, package, package up * (to hem in) corner
    Derived terms
    * abox * autoboxing * box about * boxed * boxer * box-haul, boxhaul * box-hauling * box in * boxing * Boxing Day * box off * box out * box the compass * box up
    Antonyms
    * (place inside a box) unbox, uncase, unpack

    Etymology 2

    (etyl), from (etyl), from (etyl) buxus, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (boxes)
  • Any of various evergreen shrubs or trees of the genus Buxus .
  • * '>citation
  • Boxwood: the wood from a box tree.
  • * 1884 , John R. Jackson, “Boxwood and its Substitutes”, reprinted in Journal of the Society of Arts , 1885 April 10, page 567:
    • Nevertheless, the application of woods other than box' for purposes for which that wood is now used would tend to lessen the demand for ' box , and thus might have an effect in lowering its price.
  • (slang) A musical instrument, especially/usually one made from boxwood.
  • * 1937 , , Their Eyes Were Watching God , Harper Perennial (2000), page 100:
    • “Evenin’, folks. Thought y’all might lak uh lil music this evenin’ so Ah brought long mah box .”
    Derived terms
    * box elder * box holly * box thorn
    Synonyms
    * (evergreen shrub or tree) boxwood
    Derived terms
    * bastard box * bonnet-box * box alder, box elder * boxberry * box-edged * boxen * boxer * box-gum * box-holly * box-room * box-slip * box-thorn, boxthorn * box-tree * boxwood * flowering box * grey box * prickly box * Queensland box * red box * Tasmanian box

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) (fist, pugilism)

    Noun

    (boxes)
  • A blow with the fist.
  • * Washington Irving
    • And then he whispered something to the girl which made her laugh, and give him a good-humored box on the ear.
    Synonyms
    * (blow with the fist) blow, punch

    Verb

    (es)
  • To strike with fists; to punch.
    • box someone's ears
    Leave this place before I box you!
  • To fight against (a person) in a boxing match.
  • To participate in boxing; to be a boxer.
    • Derived terms
    (derived terms) * BoxAerobics, boxaerobics * box clever * Boxer * boxer * boxercise * boxiana * boxing * box it out * box on * box-on * box oneself into a corner * out-box * shadow-box, shadowbox
    Descendants
    * German: * Portuguese:

    crack

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) crakken, craken, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (senseid)To form cracks.
    • It's been so dry, the ground is starting to crack .
  • To break apart under pressure.
    • When I tried to stand on the chair, it cracked .
  • To become debilitated by psychological pressure.
    • Anyone would crack after being hounded like that.
  • To break down or yield, especially under interrogation or torture.
    • When we showed him the pictures of the murder scene, he cracked .
  • To make a cracking sound.
    • The bat cracked with authority and the ball went for six.
  • (of a voice) To change rapidly in register.
    • His voice cracked with emotion.
  • (of a pubescent boy's voice) To alternate between high and low register in the process of eventually lowering.
    • His voice finally cracked when he was fourteen.
  • To make a sharply humorous comment.
    • "I would too, with a face like that," she cracked .
  • To make a crack or cracks in.
    • The ball cracked the window.
  • To break open or crush to small pieces by impact or stress.
    • You'll need a hammer to crack a black walnut.
  • To strike forcefully.
    • She cracked him over the head with her handbag.
  • To open slightly.
    • Could you please crack the window?
  • To cause to yield under interrogation or other pressure. (Figurative )
    • They managed to crack him on the third day.
  • To solve a difficult problem.
    • I've finally cracked it, and of course the answer is obvious in hindsight.
  • To overcome a security system or a component.
    • It took a minute to crack''' the lock, three minutes to '''crack''' the security system, and about twenty minutes to ' crack the safe.
    They finally cracked the code.
  • To cause to make a sharp sound.
    • to crack a whip
  • * 2001 , Doug McGuinn, The Apple Indians
    • Hershell cracked his knuckles, a nervous habit that drove Inez crazy
  • To tell (a joke).
    • The performance was fine until he cracked that dead baby joke.
  • (transitive, chemistry, informal) To break down (a complex molecule), especially with the application of heat: to pyrolyse.
    • Acetone is cracked to ketene and methane at 700°C.
  • (computing) To circumvent software restrictions such as regional coding or time limits.
    • That software licence will expire tomorrow unless we can crack it.
  • (informal) To open a canned beverage, or any packaged drink or food.
    • I'd love to crack open a beer .
  • (obsolete) To brag, boast.
  • *, II.4.1.v:
    • Cardan cracks that he can cure all diseases with water alone, as Hippocrates of old did most infirmities with one medicine.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Ethoipes of their sweet complexion crack .
  • (archaic, colloquial) To be ruined or impaired; to fail.
  • * Dryden
    • The creditof exchequers cracks , when little comes in and much goes out.
    Derived terms
    * bumcrack * crack a crib * crack a fat * crack baby * crack down * cracked * cracker * crack house * crack kills * crack of dawn * crack on * crack seed * crack up * crack whore * fall between the cracks * difficult nut to crack * hard nut to crack * tough nut to crack * what's the crack * wisecrack
    Related terms
    * crazed (exhibiting fine-line cracks)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (senseid)A thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material.
    • A large crack had formed in the roadway.
  • A narrow opening.
    • We managed to squeeze through a crack in the rock wall.
    Open the door a crack .
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 25 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Blackpool 2 - 3 Man Utd , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Dimitar Berbatov found the first cracks in the home side's resilience when he pulled one back from close range and Hernandez himself drew the visitors level with a composed finish three minutes later as Bloomfield Road's earlier jubilation turned to despair. }}
  • A sharply humorous comment; a wisecrack.
    • I didn't appreciate that crack about my hairstyle.
  • A potent, relatively cheap, addictive variety of cocaine; often a rock, usually smoked through a crack-pipe.
  • * (rfdate) :
    • I wouldn't use it, if I was going to use it I can afford real cocaine. Crack is wack.
  • (onomatopoeia) The sharp sound made when solid material breaks.
    • The crack of the falling branch could be heard for miles.
  • (onomatopoeia) Any sharp sound.
    • The crack of the bat hitting the ball.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=June 28 , author=Piers Newbery , title=Wimbledon 2011: Sabine Lisicki beats Marion Bartoli , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=She broke to love in the opening game, only for Bartoli to hit straight back in game two, which was interrupted by a huge crack of thunder that made Lisicki jump and prompted nervous laughter from the 15,000 spectators.}}
  • (informal) An attempt at something.
    • I'd like to take a crack at that game.
  • (vulgar, slang) vagina.
    • I'm so horny even the crack of dawn isn't safe!
  • (vulgar) The space between the buttocks.
    • Pull up your pants! Your crack is showing.
  • (Northern England, Scotland, Ireland) Conviviality; fun; good conversation, chat, gossip, or humourous storytelling; good company.
  • * 2001 , William F. Gray, The Villain , iUniverse, p. 214:
    • Being a native of Northumberland, she was enjoying their banter and Geordie good humour. This was what she needed — good company and good crack .
  • * 2004 , Bill Griffiths, Dictionary of North East Dialect , Northumbria University Press (quoting Dunn, 1950)
    • "his a bit o' good crack — interesting to talk to"
  • * 2006 , Patrick McCabe, Winterwood , Bloomsbury 2007, p. 10:
    • By the time we've got a good drunk on us there'll be more crack in this valley than the night I pissed on the electric fence!
    The crack was good.
    That was good crack .
    He/she is quare good crack .
    The party was great crack .
  • (Northern England, Scotland, Ireland) Business/events/news
    • What's the crack ?
  • (computing) A program or procedure designed to circumvent restrictions or usage limits on software.
    • Has anyone got a crack for DocumentWriter 3.0?
  • (Cumbria, elsewhere throughout the North of the UK) a meaningful chat.
  • (Internet slang) Extremely silly, absurd or off-the-wall ideas or prose.
  • The tone of voice when changed at puberty.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Though now our voices / Have got the mannish crack .
  • (archaic) A mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity.
    • He has a crack .
  • (archaic) A crazy or crack-brained person.
  • * Addison
    • I can not get the Parliament to listen to me, who look upon me as a crack and a projector.
  • (obsolete) A boast; boasting.
  • * Burton
    • crack and brags
  • * Shakespeare
    • vainglorious cracks
  • (obsolete) Breach of chastity.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) A boy, generally a pert, lively boy.
  • * Shakespeare
    • - 'Tis a noble child.
    - A crack , madam.
  • (slang, dated, UK) A brief time; an instant; a jiffy.
    • I'll be with you in a crack .
    Usage notes
    * In the last few decades the word has been adopted into Gaelic; as there is no "k" in the Irish language the spelling (craic) has been devised.
    Synonyms
    * bum crack (UK), arse crack (UK), ass crack (US) * (cocaine that is heat-altered at the moment of inhalation) crack cocaine

    Etymology 2

    1793 slang, of origin

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Highly trained and competent.
    • Even a crack team of investigators would have trouble solving this case.
  • Excellent, first-rate, superior, top-notch.
    • She's a crack shot with that rifle.
    Derived terms
    * crack train * crack troops
    Related terms
    * cracker-jack English ergative verbs ----