Pound Meaning
/ˈpaʊ̯nd/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA unit of weight in various measurement systems.
nounA unit of weight in various measurement systems., Ellipsis of pound weight.
Sentence Examples
An ounce of practice is worth a pound of precept.
We bought a pound of tea.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The angry customer started to ____ his fist on the counter to get service.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She had to ____ the chicken breast flat with a mallet before coating it in breadcrumbs.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English pound, from Old English pund (“a pound, weight”), from Proto-West Germanic *pund, from Proto-Germanic *pundą (“pound, weight”), an early borrowing from Latin pondō (“by weight”), ablative form of pondus (“weight”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- (“to pull, stretch”). Cognate with Dutch pond, German Pfund, Danish, Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish pund. Doublet of funt, pfund, pood, and punt.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"B-2 bombers are the only plane capable of carrying the Massive Ordinance Penetrator, which experts have highlighted as the only type of bomb potentially capable of destroying Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility. Each B-2 bomber is able to carry two of these “bunker buster” bombs, which weigh an impressive 30,000 pounds each."
— 2025 June 21, Thomas Bordeaux, Natasha Bertrand, Zachary Cohen, “US moves B-2 bombers as Trump weighs Iran options”, in CNN, archived from the original on 17 Jul 2025:
"Research shows that retaining even one or two pounds after giving birth can make problems more likely in a subsequent pregnancy, experts said, with women who have several children facing a "slippery slope" if they continue to gain weight each time."
— 2010 July 28, Rachel Williams, “Mothers who lose weight before further pregnancy ‘reduce risks’”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 16 Aug 2020:
""Only a hundred and ninety-three pound," said Mr. Tulliver. "You've brought less o' late; but young fellows like to have their own way with their money. Though I didn't do as I liked before I was of age." He spoke with rather timid discontent."
— 1860, George Eliot, chapter 6, in The Mill on the Floss, book 5:
"For students in developing countries who can't get it any other way, or for students in the first world, who can but may choose not to. Pay thousands of pounds a year for your education? Or get it free online?"
— 2012 November 11, Carole Cadwalladr, “Do online courses spell the end for the traditional university?”, in The Observer, archived from the original on 14 Aug 2020:
"He glanced back through what he had read and, while feeling his water flow quietly, he envied kindly Mr Beaufoy who had written it and received payment of three pounds, thirteen and six."
— 1922 February, James Joyce, “[[Episode 4]]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The angry customer started to ____ his fist on the counter to get service.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She had to ____ the chicken breast flat with a mallet before coating it in breadcrumbs.