pounce
pounce Lexical Profile
pounce Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To spring, swoop, or lunge suddenly so as to catch or seize someone or something.
"The owl waited silently on the branch before it pounced on the field mouse."
To notice and take swift, eager advantage of a mistake, opportunity, or remark.
"Critics quickly pounced on the factual errors in the published report."
To dust or smooth a surface with fine powder, or to transfer a design through perforated paper using powdered charcoal or chalk.
"The Renaissance apprentice pounced the pricked cartoon onto the damp plaster wall."
• noun
A sudden, swift swoop or spring made to seize prey or take advantage of an opportunity.
"With a quick pounce, the kitten caught the rolling ball of yarn."
A fine powder, such as pulverized cuttlefish bone, gum sandarac, or charcoal, historically used to prevent ink from spreading on unsized paper or to transfer perforated stencil designs.
"The calligrapher lightly dusted the parchment with pounce before beginning the manuscript."
• Rhymes for pounce
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The sense of springing suddenly evolved in the 17th century from an earlier Middle English noun referring to the talon of a bird of prey, derived from Old French 'poinçon' (punch or awl), ultimately from Latin 'pungere' (to prick or pierce). A separate homograph referring to a fine powder comes from Old French 'ponce' (pumice), from Latin 'pumex'.