board

Etymology 1

From Middle English bord, from Old English bord, from Proto-West Germanic *bord, from Proto-Germanic *burdą (“board; plank; table”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerdʰ- (“to cut”).

noun

1. A relatively long, wide and thin piece of any material, usually wood or similar, often for use in construction or furniture-making.
2. A device (e.g., switchboard) containing electrical switches and other controls and designed to control lights, sound, telephone connections, etc.
3. A flat surface with markings for playing a board game.
   Each player starts the game with four counters on the board.
4. Short for blackboard, whiteboard, chessboard, surfboard, circuit board, message board (on the Internet), etc.
5. A committee that manages the business of an organization, e.g., a board of directors.
   We have to wait to hear back from the board.
6. (uncountable) Regular meals or the amount paid for them in a place of lodging.
   Room and board
7. (nautical) The side of a ship.
   Now board to board the rival vessels row.
8. (nautical) The distance a sailing vessel runs between tacks when working to windward.
9. (ice hockey, often in the plural) The wall that surrounds an ice hockey rink.
10. (archaic) A long, narrow table, like that used in a medieval dining hall.
    Túrin took a seat without heed, for he was wayworn, and filled with thought; and by ill-luck he set himself at a board among the elders of the realm, and in that place where Saeros was accustomed to sit. 2007, J. R. R. Tolkien edited by Christopher Tolkien, The Children of Húrin
11. Paper made thick and stiff like a board, for book covers, etc.; pasteboard.
    to bind a book in boards
12. (video games) A level or stage having a particular two-dimensional layout.
    The object of the game is to move the smiley face over the preset board, in doing so removing the green squares and ending up at the exit […] 2004, Dan Whitehead, Martyn Carroll, Shaun Bebbington, “Future Shocks”, in Your Sinclair, number 94
    You are able to then change a color candy with any candy around the board, similar to the way you are able to with color bomb candies. 2015, Hiddenstuff Entertainment, Candy Crush Soda Saga Game Guide, page 23
13. (bridge) A container for holding pre-dealt cards that is used to allow multiple sets of players to play the same cards.
14. (computing, Internet) Short for message board.
15. (computing, Internet) Short for bulletin board.
16. (Philippines, local government) A provincial assembly or council.

verb

1. (transitive) To step or climb onto or otherwise enter a ship, aircraft, train or other conveyance.
   It is time to board the aircraft.
   You board an enemy to capture her, and a stranger to receive news or make a communication. 1862, Benjamin J. Totten, Naval Text-Book, and Dictionary, for the use of the Midshipmen of the U.S. Navy
   I have just enough time for a "swifty" in the reopened (but on this day just about to close) '301' bar on Platform 4 before boarding a two-car Northern Class 158 working the 1824 to Leeds. November 2 2022, Paul Bigland, “New trains, old trains, and splendid scenery”, in RAIL, number 969, page 57
2. (transitive) To provide someone with meals and lodging, usually in exchange for money.
   to board one's horse at a livery stable
3. (transitive) To receive meals and lodging in exchange for money.
   We are several of us, gentlemen and ladies, who board in the same house, February 8, 1712, Charity Frost, The Spectator No. 296 (letter to the editor)
4. (transitive, nautical) To (at least attempt to) capture an enemy ship by going alongside and grappling her, then invading her with a boarding party.
5. (intransitive) To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for compensation
6. (transitive, now rare) To approach (someone); to make advances to, accost.
7. To cover with boards or boarding.
   to board a house
8. To hit (someone) with a wooden board.
9. (transitive) To write something on a board, especially a blackboard or whiteboard.

Etymology 2

From backboard.

noun

1. (basketball, informal) A rebound.