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 (as Egypt, Lebanon, Syria) — 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

²pound

noun

Definition of POUND

1

a : an enclosure for animals; especially : a public enclosure for stray or unlicensed animals <a dog pound>

b : a depot for holding impounded personal property until redeemed by the owner <a car pound>

2

: a place or condition of confinement

3

: an enclosure within which fish are kept or caught; especially : the inner compartment of a fish trap or pound net

Origin of POUND

Middle English, enclosure, from Old English pund-

First Known Use: 14th century

³pound

verb

Definition of POUND

transitive verb

1

: to reduce to powder or pulp by beating

2

a : to strike heavily or repeatedly

b : to produce with or as if with repeated vigorous strokes —usually used with out <pound out a story on the typewriter>

c : to inculcate by insistent repetition : drive <day after day the facts were pounded home to them — Ivy B. Priest>

d : to move, throw, or carry forcefully and aggressively <pound the ball down the field>

3

: to move along heavily or persistently <pounded the pavement looking for work>

4

: to drink or consume rapidly : slug <pound down some beers>

intransitive verb

1

: to strike heavy repeated blows

2

: pulsate, throb <my heart was pounding>

3

a : to move with or make a heavy repetitive sound

b : to work hard and continuously —usually used with away

Examples of POUND

1. Heavy waves pounded the shore.
2. The metal is heated and then pounded into shape.
3. He got frustrated and started to pound the piano keys.
4. He pounded his fist on the table.
5. The boxers were really pounding each other.
6. Waves pounded against the side of the boat.
7. The wheat is pounded into flour.
8. Pound the herbs and garlic until they form a paste.
9. He came pounding down the stairs.
10. The horses pounded up the track.

Origin of POUND

alteration of Middle English pounen, from Old English pūnian

First Known Use: 1594

Related to POUND

Synonyms

barge, clomp, clump, flog [British], flounder, galumph, lump, plod, lumber, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudge

Antonyms

breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk

Related Words

drag, flop, haul; blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble (also wabble)

Near Antonyms

drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

⁴pound

noun

Definition of POUND

: an act or sound of pounding

First Known Use of POUND

1876

Pound

biographical name \ˈpau̇nd\

Definition of POUND

Ezra Loomis 1885–1972 Am. poet

— Pound·ian \ˈpau̇n-dē-ən\ adjective

Pound

biographical name

Definition of POUND

Roscoe 1870–1964 Am. jurist

pound

noun \ˈpau̇nd\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; poundsalso ; pound

Medical Definition of POUND

: any of various units of mass and weight: as a : a unit of troy weight equal to 12 troy ounces or 5760 grains or 0.3732417216 kilogram formerly used in weighing gold, silver, and a few other costly materials—called also troy pound b : a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces or 7000 grains or 0.45359237 kilogram—called also avoirdupois pound

pound

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Unit of weight in the avoirdupois system, the traditional European system of weight (incorporated into the British Imperial system and the U.S. system of weights and measures), equal to 16 oz, 7,000 grains, or 0.4536 kg. It is also a unit of weight in the troy and apothecaries' systems (two other traditional systems of weight), equal to 12 troy or apothecaries' oz, 5,760 grains, or 0.37 kg. Its Roman ancestor, the libra, is the source of the abbreviation lb. The troy pound is used for precious metals, the apothecaries' pound for drugs. The British monetary pound is linked historically with the minting of silver coins (sterlings). Large payments were reckoned in “pounds of sterlings,” later shortened to “pounds sterling.” See also gram; International System of Units; measurement; metric system; ounce.