pounce: Meaning and Definition of

pounce

Pronunciation: (pouns), [key]
— v., n. pounced, pounc•ing,
—v.i.
  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.
—v.t.
  1. to seize (prey) suddenly: The bird quickly pounced its prey.
—n.
  1. the claw or talon of a bird of prey.
  2. a sudden swoop, as on an object of prey.

pounce

Pronunciation: (pouns), [key]
— pounced, pounc•ing.
  1. to emboss (metal) by hammering on an instrument applied on the reverse side.

pounce

Pronunciation: (pouns), [key]
— n., v., pounced, pounc•ing.
—n.
  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. a small bag filled with pounce and struck against a perforated design.
—v.t.
  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.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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