ounce

¹ American  

[ouns] / aʊns /

noun

1. snow leopard.

---

ounce ² American  

[ouns] / aʊns /

noun

1. a unit of weight equal to 437.5 grains or 1/16 pound (28.35 grams) avoirdupois.

2. a unit of 480 grains, 1/12 pound (31.1 grams) troy or apothecaries' weight.

3. a fluid ounce.

4. a small quantity or portion.

---

ounce ¹ British  

/ aʊns /

noun

1.  oz.  a unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of a pound (avoirdupois); 1 ounce is equal to 437.5 grains or 28.349 grams

2. a unit of weight equal to one twelfth of a Troy or Apothecaries' pound; 1 ounce is equal to 480 grains or 31.103 grams

3. short for fluid ounce

4. a small portion or amount

---

ounce ² British  

/ aʊns /

noun

1. another name for snow leopard

---

ounce Scientific  

/ ouns /

1. A unit of weight in the US Customary System equal to 1/16 of a pound or 437.5 grains (28.35 grams).

2. See Table at measurement

3. See fluid ounce

---

ounce Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing ounce

• more bang for the buck (bounce for the ounce)

---

Etymology

Origin of ounce¹

1300–50; Middle English unce lynx < Anglo-French; Old French once, variant of lonce (erroneously taken as l'once the ounce) < Vulgar Latin *luncea, derivative of Latin lync- (stem of lynx ) lynx

Origin of ounce¹

1350–1400; Middle English unce < Middle French < Latin uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce, derivative of unus one

Example Sentences

Gold futures climbed back over the $5,000 a troy ounce mark, rising four out of the past five trading sessions after prices collapsed late last month.

From The Wall Street Journal

The most optimistic forecasts suggest that gold could trade as high as $6,300 an ounce, but the full-year average price estimate between analysts range from around $4,400 and $4,800.

From The Wall Street Journal

The People’s Bank of China increased its bullion purchases by 40,000 troy ounces in January, according to official data released Saturday.

From Barron's

The People’s Bank of China increased its bullion purchases by 40,000 troy ounces in January, according to official data released Saturday.

From Barron's

Donlin is estimated to be among the largest gold assets globally, with an estimated measured and indicated resource of 40 million ounces.

From The Wall Street Journal