Pounce
[paʊns]
Definition
(noun.) the act of pouncing.
(verb.) move down on as if in an attack; 'The raptor swooped down on its prey'; 'The teacher swooped down upon the new students'.
Checker: Newman--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, -- formerly used to prevent ink from spreading on manuscript.
(n.) Charcoal dust, or some other colored powder for making patterns through perforated designs, -- used by embroiderers, lace makers, etc.
(v. t.) To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper, or a pattern.
(v. t.) The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
(v. t.) A punch or stamp.
(v. t.) Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
(v. t.) To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
(v. t.) To punch; to perforate; to stamp holes in, or dots on, by way of ornament.
(v. i.) To fall suddenly and seize with the claws; -- with on or upon; as, a hawk pounces upon a chicken. Also used figuratively.
Edited by Dwight
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Claw, talon, nail.
Edited by Arnold
Definition
v.i. to fall (upon) and seize with the claws: to dart suddenly (upon).—v.t. to ornament with small holes: to strike with the claws.—n. a hawk's claw: the paw of a lion or other animal.—adj. Pounced furnished with talons.
n. a fine powder for preparing a surface for writing on: coloured powder sprinkled over holes pricked in paper to form a pattern on paper underneath.—v.t. to sprinkle with pounce as paper or a pattern.—ns. Pounce′-box Poun′cet-box a box with a perforated lid for sprinkling pounce.
Editor: Seth
Examples
- You cannot throw an old cigar stub down anywhere, but some vagabond will pounce upon it on the instant. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- By whatever other circumstance the day may be marked, it is not the day, Lavinia, on which I will allow a child of mine to pounce upon me. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- When it goes astray, they suppress it--pounce upon it without warning, and throttle it. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- The words had been thoughtless, as the utterances of impatience often are; and Mr. Welland was upon them with a pounce. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- How soon may our own evil passions prove to be Oriental noblemen who pounce on us unawares! Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Full sure was I that Madame had missed--was come in search of me, and designed now to pounce on the defaulter unawares. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- When his first pen was worn out, THAT went over his shoulder too, and he pounced on a second from the supply scattered about the table. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Rome then pounced upon Carthage, and declared she had broken the treaty! H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- He had the dull man's unexpected flashes of astuteness, and Lily could not help joining in the laugh with which he had pounced on the truth. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- Instantly, she pounced upon it. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Checked by Jessie