noun

sandbox

SAND-boks

Sandbox (noun) means a shallow box filled with sand for children to play in. Example: “The toddlers dug happily in the sandbox all afternoon.”

noun

A shallow box filled with sand for children to play in.

"The toddlers dug happily in the sandbox all afternoon."

An isolated environment where software can run safely without affecting the rest of the system.

"The suspicious file was opened in a sandbox to check it for malware."

verb

To restrict a program so that it can only run within a limited, isolated environment.

"The browser sandboxes each tab so a crash in one won't affect the others."

How to use sandbox

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA children's sand-filled play box — or, in tech, a safely isolated space for testing software.

Common pairings

sandbox environment run in a sandbox

Word forms

sandboxed past tense, sandboxes plural, sandboxes singular

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The toddlers dug happily in the _____ all afternoon.

Etymology

A compound of "sand" and "box" — the computing sense is a metaphor from the child's play area.

Synonyms

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sandpit:

Frequently asked questions

What does “sandbox” mean?

The word “sandbox” means a shallow box filled with sand for children to play in. In plain terms, a children's sand-filled play box — or, in tech, a safely isolated space for testing software.

How do you pronounce “sandbox”?

“Sandbox” is pronounced SAND-boks (/ˈsæn(d).bɑks/ in IPA).

How do you use “sandbox” in a sentence?

Here is “sandbox” used in a sentence: “The toddlers dug happily in the sandbox all afternoon.”

What is another word for “sandbox”?

Words with a similar meaning to “sandbox” include sandpit:.

What part of speech is “sandbox”?

Depending on how it is used, “sandbox” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “sandbox” have?

“Sandbox” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a shallow box filled with sand for children to play in.

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