The term 'room and BOARD' refers to a situation in which a person pays for both lodging and MEALS. The crossword solution for the term 'BOARD, ' in 'room and BOARD, ' is MEALS, with five letters. This term is often used in reference to college dorms, where students pay for a room and MEALS as part of their tuition. It can also be used in reference to boarding houses, where people pay for a room and MEALS in exchange for rent.