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
e
: the basic monetary unit of Cyprus from 1960 to 2008
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
pounded; pounding; pounds
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
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
1
: to strike heavy repeated blows
3
a
: to move with or make a heavy repetitive sound
b
: to work hard and continuously
—usually used with away
Examples of pound in a Sentence
Noun (2)
stray dogs wearing tags are kept in that pound until their owners can be notified
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.
Noun (3)
give the nail a final pound with the hammer
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
While plenty of risks remain — Milei’s party will still be in the minority in Argentina’s national legislature, and the South American nation remains deeply indebted — for now Bessent’s risky move looks to be another win, decades after his involvement in a legendary bet against the UK pound.
—Daniel Flatley, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Its rain has already been pounding parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic for several days, flooding roadways and triggering landslides.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pound
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Noun
Most of the Planet satellites are tiny (around a foot long), weighing less than eleven pounds.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
While plenty of risks remain — Milei’s party will still be in the minority in Argentina’s national legislature, and the South American nation remains deeply indebted — for now Bessent’s risky move looks to be another win, decades after his involvement in a legendary bet against the UK pound.
—Daniel Flatley, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
And so the Jays did, piling up one quality at-bat after another, grinding down Snell, pounding the Dodgers’ suspect bullpen.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Its rain has already been pounding parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic for several days, flooding roadways and triggering landslides.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pound
Cite this Entry
“Pound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pound. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pound
1 of 4 noun
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 noun1
: 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 verb1
: 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
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)
Ezra Loomis 1885–1972 American poet
Pound
2 of 2biographical name (2)
Roscoe 1870–1964 American jurist
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