HOW TO PRONOUNCE
pounce
/paʊns/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:39
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What does pounce mean?
verb
- To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.
noun
- A sudden leaping attack.
- A punch or stamp.
More meanings (10)
noun
- Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
- Synonym of bump (“sudden movement of underground strata”).
- (historical) A type of fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, sprinkled over wet ink to dry the ink after writing or on rough paper to smooth the writing surface.
- (historical) Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lacemakers, etc.
- (archaic) The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
verb
- To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something.
- To attack suddenly by leaping.
- To eagerly seize an opportunity.
- To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
- To stamp holes in; to perforate.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/paʊns/
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
The confederacy was never at a loss for an excuse to pounce upon a tribe and reduce them to tribute.
The hills about their little encampment were covered with warriors, ready to pounce upon them at the signal of their chief.
More book examples (3)
They pounce on this one sentence, “which gave much alms to the people,” because it serves their assertion that merit precedes grace.
The larger ones try to leap the barrier, and are caught by the attendant mullahs, who pounce on them with swift dexterity.
Two, apparently more famished than the rest, do at last pounce upon the Bee and repeat the scene of murder before my eyes.