What does "carton" mean?
An inexpensive, disposable box-like container fashioned from either paper, paper with wax-covering (wax paper), or other lightweight material.
Carton
/ˈkɑɹtn̩/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An inexpensive, disposable box-like container fashioned from either paper, paper with wax-covering (wax paper), or other lightweight material.
- Grammar: carton is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ammunition box, ark, attache case, bag.
- Usage evidence: That child shut up a cat in the carton.
How to use "carton"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "carton" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "carton" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "carton" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "carton" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "carton" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ammunition box" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "carton", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An inexpensive, disposable box-like container fashioned from either paper, paper with wax-covering (wax paper), or other lightweight material. countable, uncountable
"a carton of milk or eggs"
- 2 a box made of cardboard; opens by flaps on top wordnet
- 3 A pack of cigarettes, usually ten, wrapped in cellophane or packed in a light cardboard box. countable, uncountable
- 4 the quantity contained in a carton wordnet
- 5 A cardboard box that holds (usually 24) beer bottles or cans. Australia, countable, uncountable
"Mr Yunupingu was referred to the clinic where I was working at that time, Northside Clinic, for treatment of his alcohol problem. I think he described drinking between one and four cartons every single day - it's quite a phenomenal amount."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A kind of thin pasteboard. archaic, countable, uncountable
- 7 A small disc within the bullseye of a target. archaic, countable, uncountable
- 8 A shot that strikes this disc. archaic, countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To put in a carton.
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
"The more business he got, the greater his power seemed to grow of getting at its pith and marrow; and however late at night he sat carousing with Sydney Carton, he always had his points at his fingers' ends in the morning."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"That child shut up a cat in the carton."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "carton"?
Common synonyms include: ammunition box, ark, attache case, bag, bandolier, barrel.
How do you use "carton" in a sentence?
That child shut up a cat in the carton.
How do you pronounce "carton"?
Pronounced /ˈkɑɹtn̩/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French carton, from Italian cartone. Doublet of cartoon.