# pond

/ˈpɑnd/ (US) · /pˈɒnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pond
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. small body of water

noun · CEFR A2

a small area of still water, either natural or man-made, that is smaller than a lake.

For teachers: a small, inland body of standing water. Often distinguished from a lake by its smaller size and shallower depth.

- The children enjoyed feeding the ducks at the village pond every Sunday.
- The garden design featured a decorative pond stocked with koi and surrounded by moisture-loving ferns.

### 2. the Atlantic Ocean

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

a casual name for the Atlantic Ocean, usually used when talking about travelling between the US and the UK.

For teachers: a metonymic reference to the Atlantic Ocean. Almost exclusively used in the idiomatic phrase 'across the pond'.

- He has many friends across the pond in New York.
- After working in London for a decade, she decided to seek new professional opportunities across the pond in Boston.

Usage: Usually appears as 'the pond' or within the phrase 'across the pond'.

### 3. to collect or pool

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to collect in a small pool, or to block water so it forms a pool.

For teachers: to form into a pond or pool; to dam a flow of liquid so that it collects in one place.

- Rainwater began to pond on the flat roof after the heavy storm.
- Engineers observed that the chemical runoff would pond in the low-lying areas of the site if the drainage system failed.

Usage: Can be used transitively (to pond water) or intransitively (water ponds).

## Examples

- The children like to feed the ducks at the local pond.
- After the heavy rain, a large pond formed in the middle of the field, attracting several frogs.
- The garden design features a central pond stocked with koi, providing a tranquil focal point that reflects the surrounding willow trees and seasonal blooms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.