pounce
/paʊns/ verb C2- To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something. · The kitten pounced at the ball I threw to it.· She pounced on the young man, because she loved him and wanted him for herself.
- To attack suddenly by leaping. · I was awakened from a dead sleep by my child pouncing on top of me from out of nowhere.
- To eagerly seize an opportunity. · I pounced on the chance to get promoted.· While he was out of town on vacation, I pounced, leaking the photos.
- To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
- To stamp holes in; to perforate.
He/she/it pounces · Past pounced · Past participle pounced · -ing form pouncing
Verb forms
- Base form
- pounce
- He/she/it
- pounces
- Past
- pounced
- Past participle
- pounced
- -ing form
- pouncing
From the library
When they had admitted him into the cote, they found that he made more havoc and slew a larger number of them in one day than the Kite could pounce upon in a whole year.
The Wild Sow, whom you see daily digging up the earth, wishes to uproot the oak, so she may on its fall seize our families as food for her young.” Having thus frightened the Eagle out of her senses, she crept down to the cave of the Sow, and said, “Your children are in great danger; for as soon as you go out with your litter to find food, the Eagle is prepared to pounce upon one of your little pigs.” Having instilled these fears into the Sow, she went and pretended to hide herself in the hollow of the tree.
This plan succeeded; and Signor Pastrini himself ran to him, excusing himself for having made his excellency wait, scolding the waiters, taking the candlestick from the porter, who was ready to pounce on the traveller and was about to lead him to Albert, when Morcerf himself appeared.
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