packet

/ˈpækɪt/ noun [C]

Definition

› UK COMMERCE a small paper or cardboard container used to hold goods, or the contents of the container: an empty cigarette packet He ate a whole packet of biscuits.

› US COMMERCE a very small container for holding a small amount of a liquid, sugar, etc.: a packet of ketchup → Compare sachet

› (US also mailer, UK also postal packet) COMMUNICATIONS a special envelope or container for sending things that can easily break, have an unusual shape, or are very small: In general, cigarettes, alcohol, and aerosols must not be included in postal packets .

› US (UK pack) a collection of documents that have been put together as a set: An information packet is available for customers on request.

› IT a collection of data that has been put together as a set: The X .25 interface breaks the datagrams up into 128-byte packets. All data sent over the internet goes in data packets.

cost/pay/make a packet UK informal › to cost, pay, or earn a lot of money: The advertising campaign must have cost them a packet. He dropped out of university but now he's making a packet in banking.

→ See also pay packet, postal packet, wage packet

(Definition of packet noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)