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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

pound en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpæʊ̯nd/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • [ˈpʰæʊ̯nd] Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • /ˈpaːnd/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
  • [ˈpʰaʊ̯nd] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈpʰaːnd] Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization

Etymology

From Middle English pound, from Old English pund (“a pound, weight”), from Proto-West Germanic *pund, from Proto-Germanic *pundą (“pound, weight”), an early borrowing from Latin pondō (“by weight”), ablative form of pondus (“weight”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- (“to pull, stretch”). Cognate with Dutch pond, German Pfund, Danish, Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish pund. Doublet of funt, pfund, pood, and punt.

Meanings

  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 an impressive 30,000 pounds each. 2025 June 21, Thomas Bordeaux, Natasha Bertrand, Zachary Cohen, “US moves B-2 bombers as Trump weighs Iran options”, in CNN, archived from the original on 17 Jul 2025:
  2. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) A unit of weight in various measurement systems. ▸ Ellipsis of pound weight.
  3. A unit of weight in various measurement systems. ▸ Various non-English units of measure.
  4. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) A unit of mass in various measurement systems. ▸ Ellipsis of pound mass.
    alt of pound mass
  5. A unit of mass in various measurement systems. ▸ Various non-English units of measure.
  6. A unit of mass in various measurement systems. ▸ 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. 2010 July 28, Rachel Williams, “Mothers who lose weight before further pregnancy ‘reduce risks’”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 16 Aug 2020:
  7. A unit of mass in various measurement systems. ▸ 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.
  8. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) A unit of force in various measurement systems ▸ Ellipsis of pound force.
  9. A unit of force in various measurement systems ▸ Various non-English units of measure.
  10. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, informal, non-scientific) A unit of force in various measurement systems ▸ Ellipsis of pound-force.
  11. A base unit of currency in various currency systems. ▸ The base unit of sterling, the currency used in the United Kingdom and some of its dependencies. It is divided into 100 pence.
    • For students in developing countries who can't get it any other way, or for students in the first world, who can but may choose not to. Pay thousands of pounds a year for your education? Or get it free online? 2012 November 11, Carole Cadwalladr, “Do online courses spell the end for the traditional university?”, in The Observer, archived from the original on 14 Aug 2020:
    • "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. 1860, George Eliot, chapter 6, in The Mill on the Floss, book 5:
  12. A base unit of currency in various currency systems. ▸ 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. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[[Episode 4]]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:
  13. A base unit of currency in various currency systems. ▸ Any of various units of currency formerly used in the United States.
    • He knocked out cans of warm cola at two pound fifty a time. 2010, Steven Field, Dusty's Fort, →ISBN, page 33:
    • the Rhode Island pound; the New Hampshire pound
  14. (informal) A base unit of currency in various currency systems. ▸ 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 the total amount at 10,309,521 Turkish pounds(liras), or £8,935,000. 1878, w:Henry Hozier, The Russo-Turkish War: Including an Account of the Rise and Decline of the Ottoman Power and the History of the Eastern Question, page 61:
  15. (US) The symbol #.
    • Holonym: hashtag
    • To be connected, press pound.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pound Number=Plur UK, colloquial lexicographic
pounds Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

poundworth · troy pound · pound sign · pile on the pounds · foot-pound · pound party · pound-force · poundless · sound as a pound · pound Scots · poundage · geepound · Poundland · ten pound Pom · poundal · petropound · a pound to a penny · pounder · pound-for-pound · in for a penny, in for a pound · foot-pound-second · poundmaker · shorepound · ten pound tourist · poundkeeper · Bristol pound · grey pound · kilopound · brown pound · ten pound pom · pound for pound · penny-wise and pound-foolish · 800-pound gorilla · pack on the pounds · multipound · third-pound · poundman · avoirdupois pound · pound cake · full-pound · pound shop · quarter-pound · poundcake · an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure · poundable · penny wise and pound foolish · green pound · ship-pound · half-pound · pound of flesh · Amsterdam pound · pinfold · ten-pound tourist · an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure · pound-mass · tenpounder · pound-foolish · Poundstone · 800-pound gorilla in the room · poundmaster · metric pound · pink pound · take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves · assay pound · pound coin

Synonyms

hash · lb t · number sign · pound sign · mul:£ · quid · punt · octothorpe · nicker · mul:GBP · sharp · pound sterling · hash sign · hashtag · sov · lb

Translations (177)

pl funt (unit of currency) · el λίβρα (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · eo pundo (unit of currency) · be фунт (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · et nael (unit of currency) · lo ປອນ (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · fi troy-naula (unit of mass (12 troy ounces)) · kw peuns (unit of currency) · es libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ka ფუნტი (unit of currency) · ms paun (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ha fam (unit of currency) · tk funt (unit of currency) · cs libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · th ปอนด์ (unit of currency) · ka გირვანქა (unit of currency) · yue(unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · nn pund (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · it lira (unit of currency) · ar جُنَيْه (unit of currency) · my ပေါင် (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ja ポンド (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ja ポンド (unit of currency) · hi पाउंड (unit of currency) · mt lira (unit of currency) · mfe liv (unit of currency) · es libra (unit of currency) · hy ֆունտ (unit of currency) · gv punt (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · nl pond (unit of currency) · hu font (unit of currency) · gl libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · hu font (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ha laba (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · khb ᦔᦸᧃ (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · arz بَاوْنْد (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · gd not (unit of currency) · de Pfund (unit of currency) · pa پونڈ (unit of currency) · sv pund (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · bn পাউন্ড (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · lb Pond (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · sh fȗnta (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ro liră (unit of currency) · fr livre (unit of currency) · ar رَطْل (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · yi פֿונט (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · bth paon (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ga punt (unit of currency) · tg фунт (unit of currency) · pl funt (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ast llibra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · sw ratili (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ru фунт (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · lt svaras (unit of currency) · pdt Punt (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · vi pound (unit of mass (12 troy ounces)) · ko 파운드 (unit of currency) · ky фунт (unit of currency) · lo ປອນ (unit of currency) · da pund (unit of currency) · id pon (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · kk фунт (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ug پوند (unit of currency) · tt фунт (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · sh fȗnta (unit of currency) · mk фунта (unit of currency) · ka გირვანქა (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · da pund (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · la libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · grc λίτρα (unit of mass (12 troy ounces)) · sv pund (unit of currency) · fi punta (unit of currency) · sk libra (unit of currency) · sh фу̑нта (unit of currency) · sk libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · lv mārciņa (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · cy punt (unit of currency) · id paun (unit of currency) · ms paun (unit of currency) · bn পাউন্ড (unit of currency) · vi cân Anh (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · cy pwys (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · nrf louis (unit of currency) · mt libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · lt svaras (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · it sterlina (unit of currency) · nrf livre (unit of currency) · pt libra (unit of currency) · io pfund (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · gl libra (unit of currency) · ast llibra (unit of currency) · ko 파운드 (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · he לִיטְרָה (unit of mass (12 troy ounces)) · lb Pond (unit of currency) · bth paon (unit of currency) · th ปอนด์ (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · tr libre (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · tl libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · nl pond (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · it libbra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · io pound (unit of currency) · it lira sterlina (unit of currency) · km ផោន (unit of currency) · cs libra (unit of currency) · uz funt (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ga punt (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · mn фунт (unit of currency) · uk фунт (unit of currency) · arz جنية (unit of currency) · as পাউণ্ড (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · sl funt (unit of currency) · az funt (unit of currency) · sq paund (unit of currency) · bg ли́ра (unit of currency) · ar بَاوْنْد (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · fo pund (unit of currency) · vi cân Anh (unit of mass (12 troy ounces)) · de Pfund (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · eo funto (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · kk фунт (unit of currency) · sh фу̑нта (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ro livră (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · lv mārciņa (unit of currency) · an libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · eu libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · el λίρα (unit of currency) · hy ֆունտ (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · cmn(unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ar لِيرَة f or لَيْرَة (unit of currency) · fi naula (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · vi pao (unit of mass (12 troy ounces)) · af pond (unit of currency) · ka ფუნტი (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · vi pound (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · fa پوند (unit of currency) · nn pund (unit of currency) · la lībra (unit of mass (12 troy ounces)) · ca lliura (unit of currency) · nrf livre (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · vi pao (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · fr livre (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · nb pund (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · nrf live (unit of currency) · ky фунт (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · pt libra (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · sl funt (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · sw pauni (unit of currency) · cmn 鎊 /镑 (unit of currency) · be фунт (unit of currency) · vi bảng (unit of currency) · tg фунт (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · mk либра (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ca lliura (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · nod ᨸᩬᨶ (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · gv punt (unit of currency) · ro pfund (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · oc liura (unit of currency) · nb pund (unit of currency) · hi पौंड (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · my ပေါင် (unit of currency) · bg фунт (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · mfe liv (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · he לִירָה (unit of currency) · mk фунта (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · uz funt (unit of currency) · az girvənkə (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · et nael (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · tt фунт (unit of currency) · fo pund (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · gd punnd (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · arz رَطْل (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · lou liv (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · ru фунт (unit of currency) · pt libra esterlina (unit of currency) · fi pauna (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois)) · fa پوند (unit of mass (16 ounces avoirdupois))

wikidata: Q25224

pound en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpæʊ̯nd/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • [ˈpʰæʊ̯nd] Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • /ˈpaːnd/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
  • [ˈpʰaʊ̯nd] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈpʰaːnd] Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization

Etymology

From Middle English pound, from Old English pund (“a pound, weight”), from Proto-West Germanic *pund, from Proto-Germanic *pundą (“pound, weight”), an early borrowing from Latin pondō (“by weight”), ablative form of pondus (“weight”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- (“to pull, stretch”). Cognate with Dutch pond, German Pfund, Danish, Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish pund. Doublet of funt, pfund, pood, and punt.

Meanings

  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.’ 1854, Dickens, chapter 4, in Hard Times:
    • “He's done,” said the Moocher brutally. “He didn't hear nuffin, I'll pound it.” 1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life, Penguin, published 2009, page 70:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pounding Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pounded Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pounded Tense=Past lexicographic
pounds Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

farthing · pence · penny · sterling · sovereign · florin · shilling · crown · guinea

pound en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpæʊ̯nd/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • [ˈpʰæʊ̯nd] Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • /ˈpaːnd/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
  • [ˈpʰaʊ̯nd] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈpʰaːnd] Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization

Etymology

From Middle English pounde, ponde, pund, from Old English *pund (“an enclosure”). Related to Old English pyndan (“to enclose, shut up, dam, impound”). Compare also Old English pynd (“a cistern, lake”).

Meanings

  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. 1997 February 24, N. R. Kleinfield, “Robert Sarnoff, 78, RCA Chairman, Dies”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
  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." 2002, 00:27:30 from the start, in 25th Hour:
  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! 1984, Beverly Hills Cop, Paramount Pictures:
  4. A section of a canal between two adjacent locks.
  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 slathers, right in the middle of the squiteague season. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
  6. (Newfoundland) A division inside a fishing stage where cod is cured in salt brine.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pounds Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

lobster pound · Pound Ridge · pound puller · fish pound · impound · dog pound · Lob's pound

Synonyms

car pound · reach · impound · impound lot · animal shelter · impound · bulk

Translations (42)

pt abrigo (place for the detention of stray animals) · hu sintértelep (place for the detention of stray animals) · fr fourrière (place for the detention of stray animals) · hi काँजीहौस (place for the detention of stray animals) · es corralón (place for detention of automobiles) · it deposito auto (place for detention of automobiles) · cs odtahové parkoviště (place for detention of automobiles) · it recinto (place for the detention of stray animals) · gd punnd (place for the detention of stray animals) · pt carrocinha (place for the detention of stray animals) · fi löytöeläinkoti (place for the detention of stray animals) · bg приют (place for the detention of stray animals) · es depósito (place for detention of automobiles) · pt pátio (place for detention of automobiles) · de Verwahrstelle (place for detention of automobiles) · nl dierenasiel (place for the detention of stray animals) · ga póna (place for detention of automobiles) · ru штрафстоя́нка (place for detention of automobiles) · da dyrehjem (place for the detention of stray animals) · bg наказателен паркинг (place for detention of automobiles) · fi sulkuallas (section of canal between two locks) · hu gyepmesteri telep (place for the detention of stray animals) · ms kandang (place for the detention of stray animals) · ga póna (place for the detention of stray animals) · es depósito municipal (place for detention of automobiles) · fi varasto (place for detention of automobiles) · it gattile (place for the detention of stray animals) · ms kurungan (place for the detention of stray animals) · cs útulek (place for the detention of stray animals) · de Zwinger (place for the detention of stray animals) · fr fourrière (place for detention of automobiles) · it autoparco (place for detention of automobiles) · it canile (place for the detention of stray animals) · el μαντρί (place for the detention of stray animals) · mk кафиле́рија (place for the detention of stray animals) · fr bief (section of canal between two locks) · sk útulok (place for the detention of stray animals) · el μάντρα (place for detention of automobiles) · da internat (place for the detention of stray animals) · de Tierheim (place for the detention of stray animals) · es perrera (place for the detention of stray animals) · it bacino idrico (section of canal between two locks)

pound en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpæʊ̯nd/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • [ˈpʰæʊ̯nd] Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • /ˈpaːnd/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
  • [ˈpʰaʊ̯nd] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈpʰaːnd] Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization

Etymology

From Middle English pounde, ponde, pund, from Old English *pund (“an enclosure”). Related to Old English pyndan (“to enclose, shut up, dam, impound”). Compare also Old English pynd (“a cistern, lake”).

Meanings

  1. To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound.
    • And he who were pleasantly disposed, could not well avoid to liken it to the exploit of that gallant man, who thought to pound up the crows by shutting his park gate. 1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; A speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England:
    • 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 c. 1620, anonymous, “Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665)

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pounds Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
pounding Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pounded Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pounded Tense=Past lexicographic

pound en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpæʊ̯nd/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • [ˈpʰæʊ̯nd] Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • /ˈpaːnd/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
  • [ˈpʰaʊ̯nd] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈpʰaːnd] Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization

Etymology

From an alteration of earlier poun, pown, from Middle English pounen, from Old English pūnian (“to pound, beat, bray, bruise, crush”), from Proto-West Germanic *pūn- (“broken pieces, rubble”). Related to Saterland Frisian Pün (“debris, fragments”), West Frisian pún (“debris, rubble”), Dutch puin (“debris, fragments, rubbish”), Low German pun (“fragments”).

Meanings

  1. A hard blow.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
poun alternative lexicographic
pounds Number=Plur lexicographic
pown alternative lexicographic

Synonyms

pounding

Translations (9)

bg силен удар (hard blow) · fi isku (hard blow) · it colpo forte (hard blow) · it martellio (hard blow) · it tonfo (hard blow) · sk úder (hard blow) · sk rana (hard blow) · pt batida (hard blow) · it botta (hard blow)

pound en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpæʊ̯nd/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • [ˈpʰæʊ̯nd] Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
  • /ˈpaːnd/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
  • [ˈpʰaʊ̯nd] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈpʰaːnd] Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization

Etymology

From an alteration of earlier poun, pown, from Middle English pounen, from Old English pūnian (“to pound, beat, bray, bruise, crush”), from Proto-West Germanic *pūn- (“broken pieces, rubble”). Related to Saterland Frisian Pün (“debris, fragments”), West Frisian pún (“debris, rubble”), Dutch puin (“debris, fragments, rubbish”), Low German pun (“fragments”).

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To strike hard, usually repeatedly.
    • [...] and on the Saturday heavy seas pounded the W.R. on its exposed coastal stretch between Dawlish and Teignmouth, loosening the ballast and forcing trains to proceed with extreme caution. 1960 December, “Talking of Trains: The railways and the Devon floods”, in Trains Illustrated, page 709:
    • I pounded on a farmhouse / Lookin' for a place to stay / I was mighty, mighty tired / I had come a long, long way 1964, Bob Dylan, “Motorpsycho Nitemare”:
    • 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. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter XII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
  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, […] 1887, Indian Cookery "Local" for Young Housekeepers: Second Edition, page 67:
    • It was the hour before the first crowing of the cocks, and along with Nyo Boto and Grandma Yaisa's clattering, the first sound the child heard was the muted, rhythmic bombpabombpabomp of wooden pestles as the other women of the village pounded couscous grain in their mortars, preparing the traditional breakfast of porridge that was cooked in earthen pots over a fire built among three rocks. 1976, Alex Haley, chapter 1, in Roots: The Saga of an American Family:
  3. (slang, transitive) To eat or drink very quickly.
    • The sounds of a house-party rolled down the street / So we pounded our Pilsner and leapt to our feet 2007, “Fire Marshall Willy”, performed by The Dreadnoughts:
    • You really pounded that beer!
  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, qualifier:generally heart; blood; or head; 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.
    • I can't let go, you're like the chemical You're racing through me My heart just pounds, pounds, pounds... 2015 May 12, Rachel Platten, Dave Bassett, Brian West, “Beating Me Up”, in Fight Song, performed by Rachel Platten:
    • It was now about three o’clock in the morning and Francis Macomber, who had been asleep a little while after he had stopped thinking about the lion, wakened and then slept again, woke suddenly, frightened in a dream of the bloody-headed lion standing over him, and listening while his heart pounded, he realized that his wife was not in the other cot in the tent. 1936, Ernest Hemingway, The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber:
  6. (slang, transitive, vulgar) To penetrate sexually, with vigour.
    • I was pounding her all night!
    • She acting, so I'm attacking, try break the mattress / Sexy, so I suggested to switch to sideways / Pounded for 'bout a hour she said she tired 2008, Gucci Mane, “Bachelor Pad”, in The Movie:
  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. 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, part I:
  8. To make a jarring noise, as when running.
    • The engine pounds.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pown alternative lexicographic
pounded Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pounded Tense=Past lexicographic
pounds Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
pounding Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
poun alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

ground and pound · pound up · pound out · pound down · pound town · pound sand · pound dirt · pounding · pound salt · pound one's flounder · enough sense to pound sand into a rathole · pound the table · pound a beat · pound sand into a rathole · pulse-pounding · pound the pavement · take to pound town

Relateds

bang

Synonyms

boom-boom · ravage · pulverate · lay on · go to bed with · wap · pound · hammer · nail · frack · hit · poke · dab · knock off · know · tap · pummel · triturate · beep · wet one's beak · feeze · fetch one a blow · bone · bauf · jerk · vapulate · lay · dick · tap · shaft · knock · bed · go in unto · eff · thwack · run through · slam · jump someone's bones · eat · drill · blow · rut · fret · hydrate · frick · have one's way with · plough · feague · pelt · season · Any of Thesaurus:copulate + "with" · hump · dowse · give someone the time · jape · frak · impact · pink · get into someone's pants · jump · occupy · swap · butt · prig · enjoy · lay into · boff · spank · do · bonk · love · seduce · buffet · knob · go with · lambaste · dash · shag · strike · bang · ball · smush · be with · Formal terms · knock · shelve · get up in · boink · know someone in the biblical sense · down · drill · give someone one · hit · lie by · doink · get over on · thrash · imbibe · batter · pelt · mount · plug · stallionize · root · sard · punch · swinge · belabor · slay · smack · Informal and slang terms · penetrate · bang · kick · sleep with · slip it to · tup · baste · nail · schlong · coitize · cuff · whack · give toco · get up in · smite · have · expletive deleted · hammer · lunge · roger · diddle · take · calcitrate · have one's wicked way with · see to · patter · pork · love up · have · ream · poke · screw · dig out · yerk · swive · dight · smash · fuck · beat · wet one's whistle · service · chug · drink · whip · pound · rap · rock · frig · make · pump · lie with · flap · fill · coit · buffet · poke · pat · boom-boom · thump · slap · bolt

Translations (133)

eo pisti (crush to pieces) · es cachar (slang: to penetrate sexually, with vigour) · enm brayen (crush to pieces) · mi pātukituki (to strike hard repeatedly) · mba asud (crush to pieces) · rup chisedz (crush to pieces) · mi tuki (to strike hard repeatedly) · ko 빻다 (crush to pieces) · sv slå (to beat strongly or throb) · ru колоти́ть (to strike hard repeatedly) · ro pisa (crush to pieces) · enm pounen (crush to pieces) · is banga (crush to pieces) · ko (방아)찧다 (crush to pieces) · it martellare (to strike hard repeatedly) · sk búšiť (to beat strongly or throb) · pl walić (to beat strongly or throb) · bg стривам (crush to pieces) · id deg-degan (to beat strongly or throb) · fi takoa (to strike hard repeatedly) · pt pulverizar (crush to pieces) · ru ло́пать (slang: eat or drink quickly) · hu dobogtat (to beat strongly or throb) · id berdebar (to beat strongly or throb) · fi hakata (to beat strongly or throb) · it colpire (to strike hard repeatedly) · sco champ (crush to pieces) · bg блъскам (to strike hard repeatedly) · fi murskata (crush to pieces) · nl beuken (to strike hard repeatedly) · sv banka (to strike hard repeatedly) · fi imaista (slang: eat or drink quickly) · it pestare (to strike hard repeatedly) · qu takay (to strike hard repeatedly) · bgc खुड़का (to make a jarring noise) · enm pounen (to strike hard repeatedly) · sk drviť (crush to pieces) · te దంచు (crush to pieces) · te దంచు (to strike hard repeatedly) · hu döngöl (to strike hard repeatedly) · ru кроши́ть (crush to pieces) · it battere (to beat strongly or throb) · it tritare (crush to pieces) · bg удрям (to strike hard repeatedly) · tet tuku (to strike hard repeatedly) · el διαλύω (crush to pieces) · ga tuargain (to strike hard repeatedly) · fi hotkaista (slang: eat or drink quickly) · sco pran (crush to pieces) · it picchiare (to beat strongly or throb) · fi pommittaa (baseball: to pitch consistently to a certain location) · lt kalenti (to strike hard repeatedly) · es pilar (to strike hard repeatedly) · el σφυροκοπώ (to strike hard repeatedly) · ee to (to strike hard repeatedly) · sk biť (to beat strongly or throb) · ota چالمق (to strike hard repeatedly) · ru раздробля́ть (crush to pieces) · pt socar (slang: to penetrate sexually, with vigour) · pt devorar (slang: eat or drink quickly) · es pulverizar (crush to pieces) · chr ᎠᏍᏙᎠ (crush to pieces) · bg тъпча се (slang: eat or drink quickly) · tr parçalara ayırmak (crush to pieces) · pl walić (slang: to penetrate sexually, with vigour) · th บด (crush to pieces) · sk rozdrviť (crush to pieces) · fr pilonner (slang: to penetrate sexually, with vigour) · bg счуквам (crush to pieces) · hu aprít (crush to pieces) · de klopfen (to beat strongly or throb) · de pochen (to beat strongly or throb) · ru дроби́ть (crush to pieces) · sv bulta (to beat strongly or throb) · de stampfen (to advance heavily with measured steps) · ru толо́чь (crush to pieces) · fi jyskyttää (to make a jarring noise) · bg чукам (slang: to penetrate sexually, with vigour) · th ทุบ (to strike hard repeatedly) · pl walić (to strike hard repeatedly) · ru моло́ть (crush to pieces) · pl bachnąć (to strike hard repeatedly) · lt daužyti (to strike hard repeatedly) · it affogarsi (slang: eat or drink quickly) · ro pisa (to strike hard repeatedly) · de zertrümmern (crush to pieces) · sk tĺcť (to strike hard repeatedly) · sco pran (to strike hard repeatedly) · tet fai (to strike hard repeatedly) · it battere (to strike hard repeatedly) · sk biť (to strike hard repeatedly) · de hämmern (to strike hard repeatedly) · ro bate (to strike hard repeatedly) · pt triturar (crush to pieces) · non banga (crush to pieces) · non banga (to strike hard repeatedly) · it polverizzare (crush to pieces) · fi jyskyttää (to beat strongly or throb) · ee to (crush to pieces) · fi marssia (to advance heavily with measured steps) · la cūdō (to strike hard repeatedly) · sk pulzovať (to beat strongly or throb) · la tundō (to strike hard repeatedly) · gl pulverizar (crush to pieces) · pl walnąć (to strike hard repeatedly) · uk товкти́ (crush to pieces) · la pīnsō (to strike hard repeatedly) · gl mazar (to strike hard repeatedly) · is banga (to strike hard repeatedly) · pt bater (to strike hard repeatedly) · fi ahmaista (slang: eat or drink quickly) · de hämmern (to beat strongly or throb) · be таўчы́ (crush to pieces) · de verschlingen (slang: eat or drink quickly) · th ตี (to strike hard repeatedly) · th ตำ (crush to pieces) · fi rusikoida (to strike hard repeatedly) · fr marteler (to strike hard repeatedly) · cs bušit (to strike hard repeatedly) · it ingurgitare (slang: eat or drink quickly) · hu zúz (crush to pieces) · it trangugiare (slang: eat or drink quickly) · it triturare (crush to pieces) · nmn !qhāã (to strike hard repeatedly) · as খুন্দ (crush to pieces) · de zerstampfen (crush to pieces) · fi ryskyttää (slang: to penetrate sexually, with vigour) · de marschieren (to advance heavily with measured steps) · gd buail (to strike hard repeatedly) · fr pilonner (to strike hard repeatedly) · it frantumare (crush to pieces) · gl triturar (crush to pieces) · it flagellare (to strike hard repeatedly)