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ounce

 - 11 dictionary results

ounce

1  [ouns]
Use ounce in a Sentence
–noun
1. a unit of weight equal to 437.5 grains or 1/16 pound (28.349 grams) avoirdupois.
2. a unit of 480 grains, 1/12 pound (31.103 grams) troy or apothecaries' weight.
3. a fluid ounce.
4. a small quantity or portion.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME unce < MF < L uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce, deriv. of unus one

ounce

2  [ouns]
–noun
snow leopard.
Origin:
1300–50; ME unce lynx < AF; OF once, var. of lonce (erroneously taken as l'once the ounce) < VL *luncea, deriv. of L lync- (s. of lynx) lynx

snow leopard

 
–noun
a long-haired, leopardlike feline, Panthera (Uncia) uncia, of mountain ranges of central Asia, having a relatively small head and a thick, creamy-gray coat with rosette spots: an endangered species.
Also called ounce 2 .

Origin:
1865–70
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ounce
ounce 1   (ouns)   
n.  

  1. Abbr. oz

    1. A unit of weight in the U.S. Customary System, an avoirdupois unit equal to 437.5 grains (28.35 grams).

    2. A unit of apothecary weight, equal to 480 grains (31.10 grams). See Table at measurement.

  2. A fluid ounce. See Table at measurement.

  3. A tiny bit: not an ounce of sympathy.


[Middle English unce, from Old French, from Latin ūncia; see oi-no- in Indo-European roots.]
ounce 2   (ouns)   
n.  See snow leopard.

[Middle English unce, from Old French once, alteration of lonce, from Vulgar Latin *luncea, from Latin lynx, lync-, lynx, from Greek lunx; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.]
snow leopard  
n.  A large feline mammal (Panthera uncia) of the highlands of central Asia, having long, thick, whitish-gray fur with dark markings like those of a leopard. Also called ounce2.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ounce  (1)
"unit of weight," c.1330, from O.Fr. unce (12c.), from L. uncia "one-twelfth part" (of a pound, foot, etc.), from L. unus "one" (see one). The L. word had been adopted in O.E. as ynce (see inch). It was one-twelfth of a pound in the Troy system of weights, but one-sixteenth in avoirdupois. Abbreviation oz. is from It. onza. Also used in M.E. as a measure of time (7.5 seconds) and length (about 3 inches).

ounce  (2)
"wildcat," c.1300, from O.Fr. once, from lonce, with l- mistaken as definite article, from V.L. *luncea, from L. lyncea "lynx-like," from lynx (see lynx). Originally the common lynx, later extended to other wildcats, now mainly used of the mountain-panther or snow leopard of Asia.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ounce
Pronunciation: 'aun(t)s
Function: noun
1 a : a unit of troy weight equal to 1/12 troy pound or 31.103 grams b : a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to 1/16 avoirdupois pound or 28.350 grams
2 : FLUID OUNCE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

ounce (ouns)
n.
Abbr. oz, oz.

  1. A unit of weight in the U.S. Customary System, an avoirdupois unit equal to 437.5 grains or 28.35 grams.

  2. A unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or 31.10 grams.

  3. A fluid ounce.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

ounce

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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