board

A flat surface used for activities such as writing, cutting food, or playing games.

• Put the bread on the cutting board.
• The teacher cleaned the board.
• We placed the chess pieces on the board.

How to use it: on the board (The teacher wrote our names on the board.)

Common phrases: cutting board, chess board, the game board

A group of people who make important decisions for an organization.

• The board approved the budget.
• She joined the school board last year.
• How many board members attended the meeting?

How to use it: on the board (She serves on the board of a local charity.); board of something (The board of directors approved the plan.)

Similar words: committee, council

Common phrases: board of directors, school board, board meeting

A long, flat piece of wood or similar material used for building or making things.

• He nailed a board across the gap.
• The fence is made of wooden boards.
• One board in the floor is loose.

Similar words: plank

Common phrases: wooden board, floor board, nail a board

In “across the board,” affecting everyone or everything in a group.

• Prices rose across the board.
• The new rules apply across the board.
• We saw better results across the board this year.

How to use it: across the board (The company raised wages across the board.)

Common phrases: across the board, across-the-board cuts

A place, often online, where people post messages for others to read and answer.

• Check the board for new messages.
• She posted a reply on the discussion board.
• The notice board lists next week’s events.

How to use it: post something on a board (I posted a question on the message board.)

Similar words: forum, bulletin board

Common phrases: message board, notice board, discussion board

In “on the drawing board,” being planned or designed and not yet put into use.

• The project is still on the drawing board.
• Several new products are on the drawing board.
• The hotel never got beyond the drawing board.

How to use it: on the drawing board (The new bridge is still on the drawing board.)

Common phrases: drawing board, on the drawing board

If you do this, you get onto a plane, train, ship, or other vehicle.

• We boarded the bus.
• She boarded a flight to Rome yesterday.
• Have all the passengers boarded yet?

How to use it: board something (Passengers can board the train now.)

Similar words: get on, embark

Opposites: disembark

Common phrases: board a plane, board a train, board the ship

If a flight or vehicle is doing this, its passengers can now get on.

• The flight is boarding now.
• Our train began boarding ten minutes ago.
• Which flight is boarding at gate six?

Common phrases: begin to board, ready to board