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noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

carton

KAH-tuhn

Carton (noun) means a lightweight box made of cardboard or waxed paper, used to package goods. Example: “She grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge.”

noun
1
A lightweight box made of cardboard or waxed paper, used to package goods.
"She grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge."
"He bought a carton of cigarettes at the duty-free shop."

How to use carton

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cardboard or waxed-paper box used for packaging things like milk, eggs, or cigarettes.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
milk carton egg carton a carton of cigarettes

Word forms

cartoned past tense, cartons plural, cartons singular

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Test yourself on “carton” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She grabbed a _____ of milk from the fridge.

Etymology

Borrowed from French carton, from Italian cartone — a doublet of "cartoon," which originally meant a large sheet of stiff paper used for sketches.

Origin: French

Related words

Rhymes for carton

See all rhymes for carton →

Frequently asked questions

What does “carton” mean?

The word “carton” means a lightweight box made of cardboard or waxed paper, used to package goods. In plain terms, a cardboard or waxed-paper box used for packaging things like milk, eggs, or cigarettes.

How do you pronounce “carton”?

“Carton” is pronounced KAH-tuhn (/ˈkɑɹtn̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “carton” in a sentence?

Here is “carton” used in a sentence: “She grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge.”

What part of speech is “carton”?

“Carton” is a noun.

Where does the word “carton” come from?

The word “carton” comes from French. Borrowed from French carton, from Italian cartone — a doublet of "cartoon," which originally meant a large sheet of stiff paper used for sketches.

Is “carton” a common word?

“Carton” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial