ENGLISH
REFERENCE

LBS

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate US //ˈpaʊndz// lbs

n. a short way of writing 'pounds' when you are talking about weight. It is used mostly in the United States to measure how heavy something is.

n. a plural abbreviation for 'pounds' as a unit of mass or weight. Derived from the Latin 'libra', it is used primarily in the United States and occasionally in the United Kingdom.


SIMPLE

The suitcase weighs about fifty lbs.

CONTEXTUAL

The gym equipment is labeled in both kilograms and lbs to accommodate international visitors.

COMPLEX

Standard shipping rates apply to any parcel under twenty lbs, but heavier items incur a surcharge based on the total weight and the distance to the destination.

Synonyms
Usage

Always plural in this form; the singular 'lb' is used for one pound. In modern digital contexts, it is often written without a period.

Pitfall

The baby weighs 8 lbs.The baby weighs 8 lbsWhile 'lbs.' with a period is common in older texts, modern style guides often omit the period for units of measurement unless it ends a sentence.

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