Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pound

/ˈpaʊ̯nd/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.32 in modern English

Syllables: pound
IPA: /ˈpaʊ̯nd/

8

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A unit of weight in various measurement systems.

noun

A unit of weight in various measurement systems.

noun

A unit of weight in various measurement systems.

noun

A unit of mass in various measurement systems.

noun

A unit of mass in various measurement systems.

noun

A unit of mass in various measurement systems.

noun

A unit of mass in various measurement systems.

noun

A unit of force in various measurement systems

Example Sentences

"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."
"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."
""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."
"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?"
"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."
"the Rhode Island pound; the New Hampshire pound"

Etymology

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.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *(s)pend-, pound, pund, *pund, *pundą, pondō

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpaʊ̯nd/
British English: /ˈpaʊ̯nd/

Usage

Inflected Forms

pounds (plural) pounds (present, singular) pounding (participle, present) pounded (participle, past) pounded (past) poun (alternative) pown (alternative)

Derived Forms

geepound kilopound multipound petropound pinfold poundable poundage poundal poundcake pounder poundkeeper Poundland

Phrases

800-pound gorilla 800-pound gorilla in the room Amsterdam pound an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure a pound to a penny assay pound avoirdupois pound

Frequently Paired Words

crown farthing florin guinea penny pence shilling sovereign

Synonyms

lb lb t pound sterling mul:GBP mul:£ quid nicker sov punt octothorpe pound sign hash

Rhymes With

around found ground sound round 'round bound wound renowned profound lb surround

Questions

How do you pronounce pound?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpaʊ̯nd/.
What does pound mean?: A unit of weight in various measurement systems.
Where does pound come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce pound

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pound”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpaʊ̯nd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pound”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pound” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.