ounce

¹

[ ouns ]

noun

1. a unit of weight equal to 437.5 grains or 1/16 pound (28.35 grams) avoirdupois.
2. a unit of 480 grains, 1/12 pound (31.1 grams) troy or apothecaries' weight.
3. a fluid ounce.
4. a small quantity or portion.

ounce

²

[ ouns ]

noun

1. snow leopard.

ounce

¹

/ aʊns /

noun

1. a unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of a pound (avoirdupois); 1 ounce is equal to 437.5 grains or 28.349 grams oz
2. a unit of weight equal to one twelfth of a Troy or Apothecaries' pound; 1 ounce is equal to 480 grains or 31.103 grams
3. short for fluid ounce
4. a small portion or amount

ounce

²

/ aʊns /

noun

1. another name for snow leopard

ounce

/ ouns /

1. A unit of weight in the US Customary System equal to 1 16 of a pound or 437.5 grains (28.35 grams).
2. See Table at measurement
3. See fluid ounce

Word History and Origins

Origin of ounce¹

1350–1400; Middle English unce < Middle French < Latin uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce, derivative of unus one

Origin of ounce²

1300–50; Middle English unce lynx < Anglo-French; Old French once, variant of lonce (erroneously taken as l'once the ounce) < Vulgar Latin *luncea, derivative of Latin lync- (stem of lynx ) lynx

Word History and Origins

Origin of ounce¹

C14: from Old French unce, from Latin uncia a twelfth; from ūnus one

Origin of ounce²

C18: from Old French once, by mistaken division of lonce as if l'once, from Latin lynx

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with ounce , also see more bang for the buck (bounce for the ounce) .

Example Sentences

So even though he did not throw one pitch in October because of toe and knee injuries, both of which Kershaw said will be surgically repaired Wednesday, he cherished every ounce of Friday’s festivities as if he were named most valuable player of the World Series.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s certainly evidence that a lot of coffee is bad for you, and if you’re breaking eight to 10 cups a day—in this case, a cup is defined as a standard eight ounce serving in most studies—you might want to cut back.

From Slate

But there are so many cases of people who have been sentenced incorrectly, where evidence was not properly discovered, where it was not handed over, where defense attorneys and public defenders are screaming into the wind and trying to have people in similar situations have an ounce of what they’re receiving in terms of review of their case and consideration of the facts, especially in light of new scientific evidence or how we understand how trauma affects people.

From Slate

“Addressing something,” Bryan wrote, “Brianna and me have broken up with each other and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I’ll always thank her.”

From Los Angeles Times

On Friday, the price of gold hit a record high, with U.S. gold futures reaching more than $2,700 an ounce and sticking around that threshold.

From Slate