Word
pounce
US/ˈpaʊns/
UK/pˈaʊns/
Definition
n. a sudden, quick movement to grab or attack something. It is an old word for a quick jump or a fast attack.
n. a sudden, quick, and forceful movement to seize or attack. Often used in historical or literary contexts to describe predatory behavior.
Examples
“The cat made a quick pounce on the mouse.”
“The predator made a silent pounce from the tall grass, catching its prey by surprise.”
“The poet describes the eagle's pounce as a sudden, vertical strike that leaves the air momentarily still before the prey is secured.”
Examples
simple
“The cat made a quick pounce on the mouse.”
contextual
“The predator made a silent pounce from the tall grass, catching its prey by surprise.”
complex
“The poet describes the eagle's pounce as a sudden, vertical strike that leaves the air momentarily still before the prey is secured.”
Real-World Examples
Common in sport writing
“The Australian bowlers were much improved on Thursday’s efforts, but the Bangladesh pair played patiently, taking singles when on offer and waiting to pounce on the rare bad balls.” “The glee with which some rightwingers have pounced on Mr Arday’s fall from grace is not solely due to relish in his exposure – or the angst among liberals that this provokes.” Etymology
From French ponce, from Latin pūmex. Doublet of pumice.
From Middle English pounce, probably akin to punch. Possibly from Old French ponchonner (compare French poinçonner).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/pounce