pound

¹pound

noun \ˈpau̇nd\

plural pounds also pound

Definition of POUND

1

: any of various units of mass and weight; specifically : a unit now in general use among English-speaking peoples equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces or 7000 grains or 0.4536 kilogram — see weight table

2

a : the basic monetary unit of the United Kingdom —called also pound sterling b : any of numerous basic monetary units of other countries — see money table c : the basic monetary unit of Ireland from 1921 to 2001 d : ²lira e : the basic monetary unit of Cyprus from 1960 to 2008

Origin of POUND

Middle English, from Old English pund, from Latin pondo pound, from abl. of pondus weight — more at pendant

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Weights and Measures Terms

avoirdupois weight, calorie, denier, kip, pace, twain

Rhymes with POUND

bound, crowned, found, ground, hound, mound, round, sound, stound, swound, wound