POUNDING

[noun]The pounding (= loud noises) of the guns continued well into the night. [U]The city received heavy poundings (= attacks) from the air every night last week. [C](figurative) After last year's pounding (= serious defeat) in the general election, her party was left with only 19 seats. [C](figurative) The movie took quite a pounding (= received a lot of criticism) from American cinemagoers, but it was a hit in Britain. [C]