pounce
1to swoop down suddenly and grasp, as a bird does in seizing its prey.
to spring, dash, or come suddenly: Unexpectedly she pounced on the right answer.
to seize (prey) suddenly: The bird quickly pounced its prey.
the claw or talon of a bird of prey.
a sudden swoop, as on an object of prey.
Origin of pounce
1Other words for pounce
Other words from pounce
- pounc·ing·ly, adverb
Other definitions for pounce (2 of 3)
to emboss (metal) by hammering on an instrument applied on the reverse side.
Origin of pounce
2Other definitions for pounce (3 of 3)
a fine powder, as of cuttlebone, formerly used to prevent ink from spreading in writing, or to prepare parchment for writing.
a fine powder, often of charcoal, used in transferring a design through a perforated pattern.
Also called pounce bag, pounce box . a small bag filled with pounce and struck against a perforated design.
to sprinkle, smooth, or prepare with pounce.
to trace (a design) with pounce.
to finish the surface of (hats) by rubbing with sandpaper or the like.
Origin of pounce
3Other words from pounce
- pouncer, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pounce in a sentence
By pouncing on the moderator, Team Romney is deflecting attention from a tough night for its man.
Huntsman wasted no time in pouncing: “Governor Romney enjoys firing people—I enjoy creating jobs.”
Will New Hampshire’s Primary Matter in the 2012 GOP Nomination Battle? | Howard Kurtz | January 10, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTLloyd Grove on why the GOP isn't pouncing on the controversy.
The days when the press granted presidents a few weeks of grace before pouncing are long gone.
The black ball came tumbling down with a thump on the ground, and Marriner, pouncing upon it, put it in his sack.
Dr. Jolliffe's Boys | Lewis Hough
When fairly within reach, the cougar springs, and pouncing down upon the shoulders of the victim, buries its claws in the flesh.
The Hunters' Feast | Mayne ReidMr. Crawley Strutt (pouncing on Podbury in the hall, as he finishes the perusal of his letter).
The Travelling Companions | F. AnsteyPouncing greedily upon the first comer, she hardly looked at him and could not have recognized him.
Germinie Lacerteux | Edmond and Jules de GoncourtDogs, too, fall victims to it in great numbers, and now and then it succeeds in pouncing upon an unwary monkey.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History | Theodore Wood
British Dictionary definitions for pounce (1 of 3)
/ (paʊns) /
(intr; often foll by on or upon) to spring or swoop, as in capturing prey
the act of pouncing; a spring or swoop
the claw of a bird of prey
Origin of pounce
1Derived forms of pounce
- pouncer, noun
British Dictionary definitions for pounce (2 of 3)
/ (paʊns) /
(tr) to emboss (metal) by hammering from the reverse side
Origin of pounce
2British Dictionary definitions for pounce (3 of 3)
/ (paʊns) /
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
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
(as modifier): a pounce box
to dust (paper) with pounce
to transfer (a design) by means of pounce
Origin of pounce
3Derived forms of pounce
- pouncer, noun
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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