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View synonyms for

pounce

1

[pouns]

verb (used without object)

pounced, pouncing 
  1. to swoop down suddenly and grasp, as a bird does in seizing its prey.

  2. to spring, dash, or come suddenly.

    Unexpectedly she pounced on the right answer.



verb (used with object)

pounced, pouncing 
  1. to seize (prey) suddenly.

    The bird quickly pounced its prey.

noun

  1. the claw or talon of a bird of prey.

  2. a sudden swoop, as on an object of prey.

    Synonyms: , ,

pounce

2

[pouns]

verb (used with object)

pounced, pouncing 
  1. to emboss (metal) by hammering on an instrument applied on the reverse side.

pounce

3

[pouns]

noun

  1. a fine powder, as of cuttlebone, formerly used to prevent ink from spreading in writing, or to prepare parchment for writing.

  2. a fine powder, often of charcoal, used in transferring a design through a perforated pattern.

  3. Also called pounce box.Also called pounce bag,.a small bag filled with pounce and struck against a perforated design.

verb (used with object)

pounced, pouncing 
  1. to sprinkle, smooth, or prepare with pounce.

  2. to trace (a design) with pounce.

  3. to finish the surface of (hats) by rubbing with sandpaper or the like.

pounce

1

/ 貹ʊԲ /

noun

  1. a very fine resinous powder, esp of cuttlefish bone, formerly used to dry ink or sprinkled over parchment or unsized writing paper to stop the ink from running

  2. a fine powder, esp of charcoal, that is tapped through perforations in paper corresponding to the main lines of a design in order to transfer the design to another surface

  3. ( as modifier )

    a pounce box

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to dust (paper) with pounce

  2. to transfer (a design) by means of pounce

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pounce

2

/ 貹ʊԲ /

verb

  1. (intr; often foll by on or upon) to spring or swoop, as in capturing prey

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of pouncing; a spring or swoop

  2. the claw of a bird of prey

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pounce

3

/ 貹ʊԲ /

verb

  1. (tr) to emboss (metal) by hammering from the reverse side

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • pouncingly adverb
  • pouncer noun
  • ˈdzܲԳ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pounce1

First recorded in 1375–1425 pounce 1 ( for def. 4 ); late Middle English; perhaps akin to punch 1

Origin of pounce2

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English pounsen, pounson, punchen, perhaps identical with pounce 1

Origin of pounce3

First recorded in 1700–10; from French ponce, ultimately from Latin ū-, stem of ū pumice
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pounce1

C18: from Old French ponce, from Latin ū pumice

Origin of pounce2

C17: apparently from Middle English punson pointed tool; see puncheon ²

Origin of pounce3

C15 pounsen, from Old French ǾçDzԲԱ to stamp; perhaps the same as pounce 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They sat on the sofa watching an old Mexican movie as Alexa pounced on her father’s shoulders, showed him her schoolwork, and dragged him out into the yard to play tag.

From

The evolution of such powerful jaws allowed T-rex to pounce on larger prey, and even bite through bone.

From

Now, Trump is pouncing on L.A. like a cat on a mouse.

From

Meanwhile, political opponents who claim net zero is an expensive dead end are only too ready to pounce.

From

A host of Premier League clubs will be watching with interest, ready to pounce if he decides to leave Italy.

From

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