/ ˈpaʊndɪŋ; NAmE / noun
1.
a very loud repeated noise, such as the sound of sth hitting sth else hard; the sound or the feeling of your heart beating strongly :
We were awoken by a pounding at the door.
There was a pounding in his head.
2.
an occasion when sth is hit hard or attacked and severely damaged
SYN battering :
The boat took a pounding in the gale.
( figurative )
The team took a pounding (= were badly defeated) .