pound

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈpau̇nd 

plural pounds also 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 Weights and Measures 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 (such as Egypt, Lebanon, Syria) see Money Table

c

: the basic monetary unit of Ireland from 1921 to 2001

d

: lira entry 2

e

: the basic monetary unit of Cyprus from 1960 to 2008

pound

2 of 4

noun (2)

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

pound

3 of 4

verb

pounded; pounding; pounds

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

pound

4 of 4

noun (3)

: an act or sound of pounding

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• cage
• coop
• corral
• hutch
• pen

Verb

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

Noun (3)

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples of pound in a Sentence

Verb

Heavy waves pounded the shore.

The metal is heated and then pounded into shape.

He got frustrated and started to pound the piano keys.

He pounded his fist on the table.

The boxers were really pounding each other.

Waves pounded against the side of the boat.

The wheat is pounded into flour.

Pound the herbs and garlic until they form a paste.

He came pounding down the stairs.

The horses pounded up the track.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The prototype, which measures eight feet long and weighs 300 pounds, was powered by a hydrogen peroxide monopropellant engine for its initial jaunt in the sky. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024

The eel was more than three feet long, weighed at least 15 pounds and was writhing wildly, snapping its backward-curving, razor-sharp teeth. —Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024

Cole Brings Plenty is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs between 145 and 150 pounds. —Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024

To participate, individuals can place strings into bins at one of the nearly 1,200 collection locations across the country, including hundreds of Guitar Centers and independent retailers, or mail them on their own, so long as shipments exceed 5 pounds, to minimize waste. —Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024

Her dolls vary in size: a preemie that's a few pounds to one that's about the size of a 6- or 9-month-old that's 12 1/2 pounds. —David Oliver, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

Only about 3,000 pounds of the moon is known to exist on Earth, which includes samples brought back during the Apollo missions. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 31 Mar. 2024

In addition to taste, the environmental impact is paramount, with staggering statistics like the 1300 gallons of water required for just one pound of beef underscoring the urgency for change. —Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

The pay, for a 37.5-hour workweek, is more than the United Kingdom’s typical national minimum wage, which would equate to about 20,300 pounds per year ($25,720). —Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024

Verb

Take five minutes to discover the varied, explosive, resonant sounds of percussion instruments, whether struck, shaken, pounded or scratched. —Javier C. Hernández, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024

That is because much commercial real estate in Johnson County gets the light touch while homes are pounded. —Charles Hammer, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

The winds are howling, the rain is pounding and sirens are blaring. —Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024

The piano was a hit with our own babies, who loved to pound on it to hear the music. —Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024

But, once the outer layer is peeled, both green and white parts of the stalk can be used, either chopped or pounded in a mortar. —David Tanis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2024

With a deep orange sunset as the backdrop, George and the Osage Singers engaged in drum pounding and chanting as dancers in traditional clothing circled them and a ring of female singers. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024

Even back in 2016 – when far fewer took the only land route between South and Central America than the half-million people who crossed in 2023 – it was overrun by deadly risks, from criminals to animals to racing rivers and pounding rain. —Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Mar. 2024

As the warming atmosphere has fueled more extreme weather across the globe, including disastrous downpours across Southern California, pounding rains have overwhelmed sewer pipes across Los Angeles and pose increasing challenges for the region’s water infrastructure. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English, enclosure, from Old English pund-

Verb

alteration of Middle English pounen, from Old English pūnian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (3)

1876, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pound

• an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
• penny-wise and/but pound-foolish
• pound-foolish
• foot-pound-second
• 800-pound gorilla
• foot-pound
• in for a penny, in for a pound
• pound mile
• pound for pound
• pound net
• pound key
• pound of flesh
• pound cake
• pound out
• pound the streets/pavement
• pound sign
• the pound

Kids Definition

pound

1 of 4 noun

ˈpau̇nd 

plural pounds also pound

1

: any of various units of mass and weight

especially : a unit in general use among English-speaking peoples equal to 16 ounces (about 0.454 kilograms) see measure

2

a

: the basic unit of money of the United Kingdom

called also pound sterling

b

: any of several basic units of money (as of Egypt, Lebanon, or Syria)

c

: a coin or bill representing one pound

pound

2 of 4 noun

1

: a public enclosure for stray animals

the dog pound

2

: an enclosure within which fish or shellfish are caught or stored

pound

3 of 4 verb

1

: to crush to powder or pulp by beating

2

a

: to strike heavily or again and again

pound the piano

b

: to produce by pounding

pound out a tune on the piano

c

: drive entry 1 sense 1b

pound a nail

3

: to move heavily

the horses pounded along the lane

pounder noun

pound

4 of 4 noun

: an act or sound of pounding

Etymology

Noun

Old English pund "pound weight," from Latin pondo (same meaning)

Noun

Old English pund- "an enclosure for animals"

Verb

Old English pūnian "to beat into a powder"

Medical Definition

pound

noun

ˈpau̇nd 

plural pounds also 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

Biographical Definition

Pound 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈpau̇nd 

Ezra Loomis 1885–1972 American poet

Poundian

ˈpau̇n-dē-ən 

adjective

Pound

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Roscoe 1870–1964 American jurist