pound: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral; all registers from informal to formal depending on sense.
Quick answer
What does “pound” mean?
A unit of weight (approx. 454 grams) or the British currency unit (£).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of weight (approx. 454 grams) or the British currency unit (£).
Can also mean to hit repeatedly with force, to crush, or to walk/heartbeat heavily. As a place name, an enclosure for stray animals (e.g., dog pound).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Pound sterling (£) is the official UK currency (UK: 'It costs ten pounds'). In the US, 'pound' refers almost exclusively to weight or the verb. The UK uses 'lb' for weight; the US uses both 'lb' and 'pound'. The dog enclosure is 'pound' in both, but more common in US.
Connotations
In the UK, 'pound' is a core national currency symbol. In the US, it's a standard weight measure.
Frequency
Far higher frequency in UK English due to daily currency use. In US English, the weight and verb senses are common.
Grammar
How to Use “pound” in a Sentence
pound [OBJ] (into/on/against [PLACE])pound [at/on] [OBJ]pound [out] [OBJ] (on [INSTRUMENT])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pound” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The boxer began to pound his opponent.
- I could hear the rain pounding on the roof.
- He pounded the dough flat.
American English
- The construction crew pounded the beams into place.
- Her head was pounding from the headache.
- He pounded out a tune on the old piano.
adjective
British English
- A five-pound note is now a polymer banknote.
- He won a ten-pound prize.
American English
- She bought a pound cake for the party.
- It's a two-pound hammer.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Financial reports ('The pound fell against the dollar').
Academic
Economics (currency), Physics (force: foot-pound).
Everyday
Shopping ('Bananas are £1 a pound'), describing sounds ('My heart was pounding').
Technical
Engineering (torque), Veterinary (animal shelter).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pound”
- Using 'pound' as plural for currency in singular context ('It cost one pound' NOT 'It cost one pounds').
- Confusing 'pound' (weight) with 'stone' (14 pounds, UK).
- Misspelling as 'pond'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Other countries like Egypt also have a 'pound', but the 'pound sterling' (£) is specifically British. Some British territories and crown dependencies also use it.
'Pound' implies heavy, repetitive, often dull blows. 'Beat' suggests repeated striking, possibly to injure or subdue. 'Hit' is a single, general impact.
The symbol is £, placed before the number with no space (e.g., £50). The abbreviation 'GBP' (Great British Pound) is used in finance.
Historically, the value of the British coin was linked to a pound weight of silver. The term comes from the Latin 'libra pondo' meaning 'a pound by weight'.
A unit of weight (approx. 454 grams) or the British currency unit (£).
Pound is usually neutral; all registers from informal to formal depending on sense. in register.
Pound: in British English it is pronounced /paʊnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /paʊnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pound of flesh”
- “Pound the pavement”
- “In for a penny, in for a pound”
- “Your pound of flesh”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a British pound coin being so heavy (a pound in weight) you could POUND a nail with it.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORCE IS WEIGHT/IMPACT ('The news pounded him' = affected him heavily). INTENSITY IS PHYSICAL FORCE ('pound the drums').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'pound' LEAST likely to be used in American English?