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¹pound

noun \ˈpau̇nd\

plural pounds also pound

Definition of POUND

: 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

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

²pound

noun

Definition of POUND

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>

: a place or condition of confinement

: 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

: to hit (something or someone) with force again and again

: to crush or break (something) into very small pieces by hitting it again and again

: to walk or run with heavy and loud steps

Full Definition of POUND

transitive verb

: to reduce to powder or pulp by beating

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>

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

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

intransitive verb

: to strike heavy repeated blows

: pulsate, throb <my heart was pounding>

a : to move with or make a heavy repetitive sound

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

See pound defined for English-language learners

Origin of POUND

alteration of Middle English pounen, from Old English pūnian

First Known Use: before 12th century

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

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

POUNDING Defined for Kids

¹pound

noun \ˈpau̇nd\

Definition of POUND for Kids

: a measure of weight equal to 16 ounces (about .45 kilograms)

: any of several units of money (as of the United Kingdom or Egypt)

²pound

noun

Definition of POUND for Kids

: a place where stray animals are kept

³pound

verb

pound·edpound·ing

Definition of POUND for Kids

: to crush or break into very small pieces by beating <The wheat is pounded into flour.>

: to hit with force again and again <He pounded his fist on the table.> <Waves pounded the shore.>

: to move with heavy and loud steps <Horses pounded down the track.>

: ¹throb 2 <My heart was pounding.>

Medical Dictionary

pound

noun \ˈpau̇nd\

plural pounds also 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