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
Synonyms
Noun (2)
Verb
- barge
- clump
- flog [British]
- flounder
- galumph
- lumber
- lump
- plod
- scuff
- scuffle
- shamble
- shuffle
- slog
- slough
- stamp
- stomp
- stumble
- stump
- tramp
- tromp
- trudge
Noun (3)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Examples of pound in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the WebTribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
At 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, Bowers has the kind of mismatch ability Payton covets.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Two pets maximum with a maximum weight of 45 pounds per pet.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024
The prototype, which measures eight feet long and weighs 300 pounds, was powered by a hydrogen peroxide monopropellant engine for its initial jaunt in the sky.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
The eel was more than three feet long, weighed at least 15 pounds and was writhing wildly, snapping its backward-curving, razor-sharp teeth.
—Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Cole Brings Plenty is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs between 145 and 150 pounds.
—Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
To participate, individuals can place strings into bins at one of the nearly 1,200 collection locations across the country, including hundreds of Guitar Centers and independent retailers, or mail them on their own, so long as shipments exceed 5 pounds, to minimize waste.
—Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Her dolls vary in size: a preemie that's a few pounds to one that's about the size of a 6- or 9-month-old that's 12 1/2 pounds.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Provolone is also acceptable, but please, for the love of Gritty, don’t ask for Swiss.
Spot a Celebrity at: Zahav
When Jason Kelce isn’t pounding Bud Lights shirtless in celebration of his brother’s playoff win, he’s been known to enjoy a tasteful (and fully clothed) dinner at Zahav.
—Regan Stephens, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Israeli forces used stun grenades when pounding down doors, and employed artillery, airstrikes and heavy gunfire throughout their operation, according to residents.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Winks gave birth early last month on the shoulder of eastbound Interstate 80 as a powerful storm pounded Northern California.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
His mom pounded on the door with a mop, broke through one of the panels, and reached her hand through to unlock the door.
—Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024
Like dripping wax, the patio and window glow melted together, and a muted thrumming pounded in my ears.
—Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 2 Apr. 2024
Countless civilians are caught in the crossfire: Artillery bombardments and airstrikes pounded urban areas, while warring militias pursued tribal vendettas and carried out hideous ethnic massacres.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
Take five minutes to discover the varied, explosive, resonant sounds of percussion instruments, whether struck, shaken, pounded or scratched.
—Javier C. Hernández, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
Last July, a 19-footer weighing nearly 200 pounds, was caught in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida — the state record to date.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
At 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, Bowers has the kind of mismatch ability Payton covets.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Two pets maximum with a maximum weight of 45 pounds per pet.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024
The prototype, which measures eight feet long and weighs 300 pounds, was powered by a hydrogen peroxide monopropellant engine for its initial jaunt in the sky.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
The eel was more than three feet long, weighed at least 15 pounds and was writhing wildly, snapping its backward-curving, razor-sharp teeth.
—Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Cole Brings Plenty is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs between 145 and 150 pounds.
—Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
To participate, individuals can place strings into bins at one of the nearly 1,200 collection locations across the country, including hundreds of Guitar Centers and independent retailers, or mail them on their own, so long as shipments exceed 5 pounds, to minimize waste.
—Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Her dolls vary in size: a preemie that's a few pounds to one that's about the size of a 6- or 9-month-old that's 12 1/2 pounds.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
The tornado damaged buildings and downed power lines as rain pounded the town, according to officials.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Provolone is also acceptable, but please, for the love of Gritty, don’t ask for Swiss.
Spot a Celebrity at: Zahav
When Jason Kelce isn’t pounding Bud Lights shirtless in celebration of his brother’s playoff win, he’s been known to enjoy a tasteful (and fully clothed) dinner at Zahav.
—Regan Stephens, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Israeli forces used stun grenades when pounding down doors, and employed artillery, airstrikes and heavy gunfire throughout their operation, according to residents.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Winks gave birth early last month on the shoulder of eastbound Interstate 80 as a powerful storm pounded Northern California.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
His mom pounded on the door with a mop, broke through one of the panels, and reached her hand through to unlock the door.
—Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024
Like dripping wax, the patio and window glow melted together, and a muted thrumming pounded in my ears.
—Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 2 Apr. 2024
Countless civilians are caught in the crossfire: Artillery bombardments and airstrikes pounded urban areas, while warring militias pursued tribal vendettas and carried out hideous ethnic massacres.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
Take five minutes to discover the varied, explosive, resonant sounds of percussion instruments, whether struck, shaken, pounded or scratched.
—Javier C. Hernández, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pound.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to pound
Dictionary Entries Near pound
Cite this Entry
“Pound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pound. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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