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Definition of carton

carton

/ˈkɑːr.tən/
car · ton

Plural:cartons
•
Past Simple:cartoned
•
Past Participle:cartoned
•
Present Participle:cartoning
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carton Lexical Profile

carton Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A light box or container, typically made of waxed cardboard or plastic, in which food or drink is packaged.

Example

"She bought a carton of milk and a dozen eggs from the corner grocery store."


2

A large, strong cardboard box used for storage or transport.

Example

"The movers neatly stacked heavy cartons of books in the back of the moving truck."


3

The quantity or volume that a carton can hold.

Example

"The convenience store offered a discount if you bought a full carton of cigarettes rather than individual packs."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for carton

• verb

1

To pack or enclose in a carton.

Example

"The warehouse workers machine-carton the fragile goods carefully to prevent damage during transit."

Word Nuance & Usage

English learners occasionally confuse 'carton' with 'cartoon' due to their similar spellings, but they have completely distinct pronunciations and meanings.

• Rhymes for carton

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from French 'carton' (pasteboard), derived from Italian 'cartone' (heavy paper, pasteboard), an augmentative form of 'carta' (paper), ultimately from Latin 'charta'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Carton. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/carton
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