~ 1
■ noun
1》 a small area of still water, typically one formed naturally.
↘a deep place in a river.
↘a swimming ~.
2》 a small, shallow patch of liquid lying on a surface.
■ verb
1》 form a ~.
2》 (of blood) accumulate in parts of the venous system.
Origin
OE pōl , of W. Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ noun
1》 a shared supply of vehicles, people, or resources to be drawn on when needed.
↘a common fund into which all contributors pay and from which financial backing is provided.
↘the collective amount of players' stakes in gambling or sweepstakes.
↘( the ~s or football ~s ) a form of gambling on the results of football matches, the winners receiving large sums accumulated from entry money.
2》 an arrangement between competing parties to fix prices and share business in order to eliminate competition.
3》 a group of contestants who compete against each other in a tournament for the right to advance to the next round.
4》 a game played on a billiard table using two sets of seven balls together with one black ball and a white cue ball.
■ verb
1》 put (money or other assets) into a common fund.
↘share for the benefit of all.
2》 Austral. informal implicate or inform on.
Origin
C17: from Fr. poule in the sense 'stake, kitty', assoc. with ~ 1 .