pounce Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of pouncing
  2. verb move down on as if in an attack
    swoop.
    • The raptor swooped down on its prey
    • The teacher swooped down upon the new students

WordNet

Pounce noun
Etymology
F. ponce pumice, pounce, fr. L. pumex, -icis, pumice. See Pumice.
Definitions
  1. A fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, -- formerly used to prevent ink from spreading on manuscript.
  2. Charcoal dust, or some other colored powder for making patterns through perforated designs, -- used by embroiderers, lace makers, etc.
Pounce transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Pounded ; present participle & verbal noun Pouncing
Definitions
  1. To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper, or a pattern.
Pounce noun
Etymology
Prob. through French, from an assumed LL. punctiare to prick, L. pungere, punctum. See Puncheon, Punch, v. t.
Definitions
  1. The claw or talon of a bird of prey. Spenser. Burke.
  2. A punch or stamp. Obs. "A pounce to print money with." Withals.
  3. Cloth worked in eyelet holes. Obs. Homilies.
Pounce transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons. Archaic
    Stooped from his highest pitch to pounce a wren. Cowper.
    Now pounce him lightly, And as he roars and rages, let's go deeper. J. Fletcher.
  2. To punch; to perforate; to stamp holes in, or dots on, by way of ornament. Obs. Sir T. Elyot.
Pounce intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To fall suddenly and seize with the claws; -- with on or upon; as, a hawk pounces upon a chicken. Also used figuratively.
    Derision is never so agonizing as when it pounces on the wanderings of misguided sensibility. Jeffrey.

Webster 1913