1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a small body of still water, usu. of natural formation.
2 a small shallow body of any liquid.
3 swimming-pool (see SWIM).
4 a deep place in a river.
--v.
1. tr. form into a pool.
2 intr. (of blood) become static.
Etymology: OE pol, MLG, MDu. pol, OHG pfuol f. WG 2. n. & v.
--n.
1. a (often attrib.) a common supply of persons, vehicles, commodities, etc. for sharing by a group of people (a typing pool; a pool car). b a group of persons sharing duties etc.
2 a the collective amount of players' stakes in gambling etc. b a receptacle for this.
3 a a joint commercial venture, esp. an arrangement between competing parties to fix prices and share business to eliminate competition. b the common funding for this.
4 a US a game on a billiard-table with usu. 16 balls. b Brit. a game on a billiard-table in which each player has a ball of a different colour with which he tries to pocket the others in fixed order, the winner taking all of the stakes.
5 a group of contestants who compete against each other in a tournament for the right to advance to the next round.
--v.tr.
1. put (resources etc.) into a common fund.
2 share (things) in common.
3 (of transport or organizations etc.) share (traffic, receipts).
4 Austral. sl. a involve (a person) in a scheme etc., often by deception. b implicate, inform on.
Phrases and idioms:
the pools Brit. football pool.
Etymology: F poule ( hen) in same sense: assoc. with POOL(1)