across the board

board  (bôrd, brd)

n.

1. A long flat slab of sawed lumber; a plank.

2. A flat piece of wood or similarly rigid material adapted for a special use.

3. Games A flat surface on which a game is played.

4. The hard cover of a book.

5. boards A theater stage.

6.

a. A table, especially one set for serving food.

b. Food or meals considered as a whole: board and lodging.

7. A table at which official meetings are held; a council table.

8. An organized body of administrators or investigators: a board of trustees; a board of directors.

9. An electrical-equipment panel.

10. Computer Science A circuit board.

11. Sports

a. A scoreboard.

b. A tote board.

c. boards The wooden structure enclosing an ice hockey rink.

d. A diving board.

e. A surfboard.

f. A snowboard.

12. Basketball

a. A backboard.

b. A rebound.

13. Nautical

a. The side of a ship.

b. A leeboard.

c. A centerboard.

14. Obsolete A border or an edge.

15. A usually large, vertically positioned flat surface used for writing or posting, especially:

a. A blackboard.

b. A bulletin board.

v. board·ed, board·ing, boards

v.tr.

1. To cover or close with boards: board up a broken window.

2.

a. To furnish with meals in return for pay.

b. To house where board is furnished: board a horse at a stable.

3.

a. To enter or go aboard (a vehicle or ship).

b. To allow (passengers) on board.

c. Nautical To come alongside (a ship).

4. Sports To force (an opposing hockey player) into the boards with a body check.

5. Obsolete To approach.

v.intr.

1. To use a snowboard, skateboard, surfboard, or similar item.

2. To receive meals or food and lodging as a paying customer.

Idioms:

across the board

So as to affect or include all people, classes, or categories: raised taxes across the board.

on board

1. Aboard.

2. On the job.

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[Middle English bord, from Old English.]

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across the board - An allusion to the board displaying the odds in a horse race.

See also related terms for odds.

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

across the board - including all; "we got a pay raise across the board"

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across the board

adjective general, full, complete, total, sweeping, broad, widespread, comprehensive, universal, blanket, thorough, wholesale, panoramic, indiscriminate, all-inclusive, wall-to-wall, all-embracing, overarching, all-encompassing, thoroughgoing, without exception or omission The President promised across the board tax cuts if re-elected.
limited, specific, restricted, partial, discriminate, selective