Pound — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈpau̇nd/

Meaning & Definition of Pound

Pound (noun)

  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
  2. the basic monetary unit of the United Kingdom —called also pound sterling
  3. any of numerous basic monetary units of other countries (such as Egypt, Lebanon, Syria)
  4. an enclosure for animals; especially, a public enclosure for stray or unlicensed animals
  5. a depot for holding impounded personal property until redeemed by the owner
  6. a place or condition of confinement
  7. an act or sound of pounding

Pound (verb)

  1. to reduce to powder or pulp by beating
  2. to strike heavily or repeatedly
  3. to produce with or as if with repeated vigorous strokes —usually used with out

Pound (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

    "give the nail a final pound with the hammer"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop
    related: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

  2. an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals

    "stray dogs wearing tags are kept in that pound until their owners can be notified"

    similar: cage, coop, corral, hutch, pen
    related: kennel, run, kraal, stockade, cote, dovecote, henhouse, fold, sheepfold, pigpen, aquarium, terrarium, live-box, fence

Pound (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move heavily or clumsily

    "pounding down the road as fast as he could run"

    similar: barge, clump, flog (British), flounder, galumph, lumber, lump, plod, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudge
    related: drag, flop, haul, blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble
    opposite: breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk
    near: drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

  2. to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

    "pounding nails into boards all day long"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap, hang one on
    related: batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough, scuff, bunt, flick, stroke, tap, bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp, bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump (slang), fell, floor, knock down, level, rabbit-punch, sucker punch, cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip, bean, brain, conk, skull

  3. to strike repeatedly

    "during the storm the waves furiously pounded the beach"

    similar: bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop, whup, work over, beat up on
    related: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate

  4. to shape with a hammer

    "pounding out a depression in the metal"

    similar: beat, draw, forge, hammer
    related: chase, planish, fashion, form, knead, model, mold, pat, work, coin, mint, stamp, abate, boast, carve, chisel, cut, grave, hew, knap, sculpt, sculpture

  5. to reduce to fine particles

    "the tablet may be pounded and mixed in with the animal's food"

    similar: atomize, beat, bray, comminute, crush, disintegrate, grind, mill, mull, powder, pulverize
    related: grate, kibble, crumble, crunch, break, bust, dash, fracture, fragment, shatter, smash, splinter, micronize

Related Entry: Pound (down) (verb)

Pound (down) is a different word from Pound. The synonyms below are for pound (down), not for pound.

  1. to swallow in liquid form

    "Friday nights were usually spent wolfing down pizza and pounding down beers"

    similar: belt (down), drink, gulp, guzzle, hoist, imbibe, knock back, quaff, sip, slug (down), slurp, sup, swig, swill, toss (down or off)
    related: lap, lick, suck, consume, down, ingurgitate, kill, mouth (down), put away, nip, tipple, pledge, toast, wine

Related Entry: Pound (out) (verb)

Pound (out) is a different word from Pound. The synonyms below are for pound (out), not for pound.

  1. as in hammer out, forge

    similar: fashion, forge, hammer out, craft, handcraft
    opposite: cobble (together or up), jury-rig, patch (together), throw up, dash (off), jerry-build

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pound

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pound:

British: douse, flog, fib
Dialect: larrup
bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pound

Words with the opposite meaning of Pound:

breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk

Related Words for Pound

counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling

Near Antonyms of Pound

drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

Word Forms of Pound

Inflections: pounds, pounded, pounding

Origin & Etymology of Pound

Middle English, from Old English pund, from Latin pondo pound, from ablative of pondus weight pendant

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Pound

Words & Phrases Containing Pound

pound cake, pound-foolish, pound mile, pound net

Frequently Asked Questions about Pound

What does "Pound" mean?

"Pound" means 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. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: 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. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pound"?

Other words for "Pound" include bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow and bop. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pound" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pound"?

There are 302 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pound". Common alternatives include bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box and buffet.

What is the opposite of "Pound"?

Antonyms of "Pound" include breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz and whisk. Near antonyms include drift, float, hang and hover.

How do you use "Pound" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pound" in a sentence: "give the nail a final pound with the hammer"; "stray dogs wearing tags are kept in that pound until their owners can be notified"; "pounding down the road as fast as he could run".

Is "Pound" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pound" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Pound" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Pound" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Pound"?

"Pound" is pronounced /ˈpau̇nd/.