I. ˈpau̇nd noun
( plural pounds also pound )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pund, from Latin pondo pound, from ablative of pondus weight — more at pendant
Date: before 12th century
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 weight 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 — see money table
c. : the basic monetary unit of Ireland from 1921 to 2001
d. : lira II
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, enclosure, from Old English pund-
Date: 14th century
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
III. verb
Etymology: alteration of Middle English pounen, from Old English pūnian
Date: 1594
transitive verb
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 pound ed home to them — 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
pound ed the pavement looking for work
4. : to drink or consume rapidly : slug
pound down some beers
intransitive verb
1. : to strike heavy repeated blows
2. : pulsate , throb
my heart was pound ing
3.
a. : to move with or make a heavy repetitive sound
b. : to work hard and continuously — usually used with away
IV. noun
Date: 1876
: an act or sound of pounding