pound

noun pounds · pound

1. A unit of weight in various measurement systems. B-2 bombers are the only plane capable of carrying the Massive Ordinance Penetrator, which experts have highlighted as the only type of bomb potentially capable of destroying Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility. Each B-2 bomber is able to carry two of these “bunker buster” bombs, which weigh
2. abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of pound weight
3. Various non-English units of measure.
4. abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of pound mass
5. Various non-English units of measure.
6. A unit of mass equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces (= 453.592 g). Today this value is the most common meaning of "pound" as a unit of weight. Research shows that retaining even one or two pounds after giving birth can make problems more likely in a subsequent pregnancy, experts said, with women who have several children facing a "slippery slope" if they continue to gain weight each time.

   Similar: lb

7. A unit of mass equal to 12 troy ounces (≈ 373.242 g). Today, this is a common unit of mass when measuring precious metals, and is little used elsewhere.

   Similar: lb t

8. abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of pound force
9. Various non-English units of measure.
10. abbreviation, ellipsis, informal, non scientific Ellipsis of pound-force
11. The base unit of sterling, the currency used in the United Kingdom and some of its dependencies. It is divided into 100 pence. "Only a hundred and ninety-three pound," said Mr. Tulliver. "You've brought less o' late; but young fellows like to have their own way with their money. Though I didn't do as I liked before I was of age." He spoke with rather timid discontent.

    Similar: pound sterling, mul:GBP, mul:£, quid, nicker, sov

12. Any of various units of currency used in Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, and Syria, and formerly in the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Nigeria, Israel, and South Africa. 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.

    Similar: punt

13. Any of various units of currency formerly used in the United States. the Rhode Island pound; the New Hampshire pound
14. informal Various non-English units of currency not officially called pounds. In the report of the Special Budget Commission certifying the estimates for 1874-75, it was announced on authority that the total amount of this debt did not exceed 14,725,000 Turkish pounds(liras), or £13,000,000, while the Special Commission for the verification of the budget for 1875-76 returned
15. US The symbol #. Holonym: hashtag

    Similar: octothorpe, pound sign, hash, hash sign, hashtag, number sign, sharp

verb pounds · pounding · pounded

1. UK, regional, slang, transitive To wager a pound on. ‘Good-bye, my dear!' said Sleary. 'You'll make your fortun, I hope, and none of our poor folkth will ever trouble you, I'll pound it.’

noun pounds

1. A place for the detention of stray or wandering animals. Mr. Sarnoff also sent to the pound one of the best-known dogs in the world. Nipper, the black-and-white terrier usually depicted peering with head cocked into the horn of a Victrola, listening for “His Master's Voice,” was de-emphasized as a corporate symbol.

   Similar: animal shelter

2. metonymically The people who work for the pound. (Police officer to a dog owner) "He'd better stay calm or I'll have the pound come and get him."
3. UK A place for the detention of automobiles that have been illegally parked, abandoned, etc. 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!

   Similar: impound, car pound, impound lot

4. A section of a canal between two adjacent locks.

   Similar: reach

5. A kind of fishing net, having a large enclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward. Then there came a reg'lar terror of a sou'wester same as you don't get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand. We spent consider'ble money getting 'em reset, and then a swordfish got into the pound and tore the nets all to slather
6. Newfoundland A division inside a fishing stage where cod is cured in salt brine.

   Similar: bulk

verb pounds · pounding · pounded

1. To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound. When I short haue shorne my sowce face & swigg’d my horny barrell, In an oaken Inne I pound my skin as a suite of guilt apparrell

verb pounds · pounding · pounded · poun · pown

1. transitive To strike hard, usually repeatedly. She had Lord James' collar in one big fist and she pounded the table with the other and talked a blue streak. Nobody could make out plain what she said, for she was mainly jabbering Swede lingo, but there was English enough, of a kind, to give us some idee.

   Similar: hammer, pelt, bang, baste, batter, beat, belabor, blow, clobber, boom-boom, buffet, butt

2. transitive To crush to pieces; to pulverize. Pound an onion, warm a spoonful of ghee and throw in the onion, brown it slightly, add your curry stuff, brown this till it smells pleasantly, […]

   Similar: pulverate, triturate

3. slang, transitive To eat or drink very quickly. You really pounded that beer!

   Similar: bolt, down, chug, eat, have, fret, drink, hydrate, imbibe, wet one's whistle, wet one's beak

4. slang, transitive To pitch consistently to a certain location. The pitcher has been pounding the outside corner all night.
5. intransitive, of a body part To beat strongly or throb. As I tiptoed past the sleeping dog, my heart was pounding but I remained silent.
6. slang, transitive, vulgar To penetrate sexually, with vigour. I was pounding her all night!

   Similar: drill, get up in, nail, poke, Formal terms, bed, coit, coitize, dight, enjoy, feague, go in unto

7. To advance heavily with measured steps. 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.
8. To make a jarring noise, as when running. The engine pounds.

Similar: buffet

noun pounds · poun · pown

1. A hard blow.

   Similar: pounding

proper noun Pounds

1. countable, uncountable A surname.
2. countable, uncountable A town in Wise County, Virginia, United States.
3. countable, uncountable A village and town in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States, both named after Thaddeus C. Pound.