impound

[ verb im-pound; noun im-pound ]

verb (used with object)

1. to shut up in a pound or other enclosure, as a stray animal.
2. to confine within an enclosure or within limits:

   water impounded in a reservoir.

3. to seize and retain in custody of the law, as a document for evidence.

noun

1. money, property, etc., that has been impounded:

   a sale of impounds by the police department.

impound

/ ɪmˈpaʊnd /

verb

1. to confine (stray animals, illegally parked cars, etc) in a pound
2. 1. to seize (chattels, etc) by legal right
   2. to take possession of (a document, evidence, etc) and hold in legal custody
3. to collect (water) in a reservoir or dam, as for irrigation
4. to seize or appropriate

Derived Forms

• imˈpounder, noun
• imˈpoundable, adjective
• imˈpoundage, noun

Other Words From

• im·pounda·ble adjective
• im·pounder noun
• unim·pounded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of impound¹

First recorded in 1545–55; im- ³ + pound ³

Example Sentences

“We searched all the impound lots in the city, and there they were,” Alvarado said.

From The Daily Beast

“It is an outrage that DEA is using finite taxpayer dollars to impound legal industrial hemp seeds,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

It forbids the government to impound weapons in the wake of a national emergency.

From The Daily Beast

They were first opened to admit the ship, and then closed to impound the water that flows up through the bottom of the lock.

From Project Gutenberg

These cows he used to impound, and had great trouble in the matter.

From Project Gutenberg

In this case the game is the caribou or reindeer, but no rope fence would serve to impound these.

From Project Gutenberg

It can be shown that the area of the reservoir necessary to impound water enough to produce 100 horse-power would be 40 acres.

From Project Gutenberg

Before such a dredge is launched, a dam is built across the gulch to impound sufficient water.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• imprison
• seize