ounce

1
[ ouns ]
/ aʊns /

noun

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

Origin of ounce

1
1350–1400; Middle English unce < Middle French < Latin uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce, derivative of unus one

Definition for ounce (2 of 2)

ounce 2
[ ouns ]
/ aʊns /

noun

Origin of ounce

2
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

Example sentences from the Web for ounce

British Dictionary definitions for ounce (1 of 2)

ounce 1
/ (aʊns) /

noun

a unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of a pound (avoirdupois); 1 ounce is equal to 437.5 grains or 28.349 grams Abbreviation: oz
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
short for fluid ounce
a small portion or amount

Word Origin for ounce

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

British Dictionary definitions for ounce (2 of 2)

ounce 2
/ (aʊns) /

noun

another name for snow leopard

Word Origin for ounce

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

Medical definitions for ounce

ounce
[ ouns ]

n.

A unit of weight in the US Customary System, an avoirdupois unit equal to 437.5 grains or 28.35 grams.
A unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or 31.10 grams.
A fluid ounce.

Scientific definitions for ounce

ounce
[ ouns ]

A unit of weight in the US Customary System equal to 116 of a pound or 437.5 grains (28.35 grams). See Table at measurement.
See fluid ounce.

Idioms and Phrases with ounce

ounce