Dictionary

pound

see also: Pound

Pronunciation

Noun

pound (plural pounds) (sometimes pound after numerals)

A unit of mass equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces (= 453.592 37 g). Today this value is the most common meaning of "pound" as a unit of weight.
Synonyms: lb
A unit of mass equal to 12 troy ounces (≈ 373.242 g). Today, this is a common unit of weight when measuring precious metals, and is little used elsewhere.
Synonyms: lb t
(US) The symbol # (octothorpe, hash)
Synonyms: hash, sharp
The unit of currency used in the United Kingdom and its dependencies. It is divided into 100 pence.
Synonyms: £, pound sterling, GBP, quid, nicker
Any of various units of currency used in Egypt and Lebanon, and formerly in the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and Israel.
- 1922 February, James Joyce, “[[Episode 4]]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare & Co.; Sylvia Beach, OCLC 560090630 ↗; republished London: Published for the Egoist Press, London by John Rodker, Paris, October 1922, OCLC 2297483 ↗:
  He glanced back through what he had read and, while feeling his water flow quietly, he envied kindly Mr Beaufoy who had written it and received payment of three pounds, thirteen and six.
Synonyms: punt
Any of various units of currency formerly used in the United States.
the Rhode Island pound; the New Hampshire pound
Abbreviation for pound-force, a unit of force/weight. Using this abbreviation to describe pound-force is inaccurate and unscientific.

Translations

Translations

Noun

pound (plural pounds)

A place for the detention of stray or wandering animals. An animal shelter.
1. (by metonymy) The people who work for the pound
A place for the detention of automobiles that have been illegally parked, abandoned, etc. Short form of impound.
Beverly Hills Cop, Paramount Pictures, 1984:
Inspector Douglas Todd: Where did you get a truckload of cigarettes from anyway?
Detective Axel Foley: From the Dearborn Hijacking.
Todd: The Dearborn Hijacking? That bust went down weeks ago. That load's supposed to be in the damn pound!
A section of a canal between two adjacent locks.
Synonyms: reach
A kind of fishing net, having a large enclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward.

Translations

Translations

Translations

Verb

pound (pounds, present participle pounding; past and past participle pounded)

Verb

pound (pounds, present participle pounding; past and past participle pounded)

(transitive) To strike hard, usually repeatedly.
(transitive) To crush to pieces; to pulverize.
(transitive, slang) To eat or drink very quickly.
You really pounded that beer!
(transitive, baseball, slang) To pitch consistently to a certain location.
The pitcher has been pounding the outside corner all night.
(intransitive, of a body part, generally heart, blood, or head) To beat strongly or throb.
As I tiptoed past the sleeping dog, my heart was pounding but I remained silent.
My head was pounding.
(transitive, vulgar, slang) To penetrate sexually, with vigour.
I was pounding her all night!
To advance heavily with measured steps.
- 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], OCLC 1042815524 ↗, part I:
  We pounded along, stopped, landed soldiers; went on, landed custom–house clerks to levy toll in what looked like a God–forsaken wilderness, with a tin shed and a flag–pole lost in it; landed more soldiers—to take care of the custom–house clerks, presumably.
(engineering) To make a jarring noise, as when running.
The engine pounds.
(slang, dated) To wager a pound on.