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Ounce definition

ouns
ounces oz
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A unit of weight in the US Customary System equal to1 /16 of a pound or 437.5 grains (28.35 grams).
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The definition of an ounce is 1/16 of a pound or a very small amount of something.

If you have 1/16 of a pound of caviar, this is an example of an ounce of caviar.

If you show only a tiny amount of compassion to someone who is suffering when you'd be expected to show more, this is an example of when you show an ounce of compassion.

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A unit of weight in the US Customary System, an avoirdupois unit equal to 437.5 grains (28.35 grams).
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A tiny bit.

Not an ounce of sympathy.

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A unit of apothecary weight, equal to 480 grains (31.103 grams).
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A unit of weight, equal to116 pound avoirdupois or 16 drams (28.3495 grams)
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A unit of weight, equal to112 pound troy or 20 pennyweights (31.1035 grams)
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A unit of weight, equal to112 pound apothecaries' weight or 8 drams (31.1035 grams)
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An avoirdupois ounce, weighing 1/16 of an avoirdupois pound, or 28.3495 grams.
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A troy ounce, weighing 1/12 of a troy pound, or 480 grains, or 31.1035 grams.
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A US fluid ounce, with a volume of 1/16 of a US pint, 1.804 687 cubic inches or 29.573 531 milliliters.
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A British imperial fluid ounce, with a volume of 1/20 of an imperial pint, 1.733871 cubic inches or 28.413063 millilitres.
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A little bit.

He didn't feel even an ounce of regret for his actions.

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The snow leopard, Uncia uncia.
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A fluid ounce.
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Any small amount.

An ounce of prevention.

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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
ounce
Plural:
ounces

Origin of ounce

  • Middle English unce from Old French from Latin ūncia oi-no- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French once, from lonce (“lynx"), by false division (the l was thought to be the article), from Latin lynx, from Ancient Greek λύγξ (lunks, “lynx"). Interestingly, the taxon of the snow leopard is a Latinisation using the root of ounce (1).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle French once, from Latin uncia (“1/12 part"), from Å«nus (“one"). Compare inch.

    From Wiktionary

Ounce Sentence Examples

  • I didn't think you had an ounce of sense, Talon.

  • There's an ounce of honor in you.

  • It took every ounce of willpower not to run after him.

  • There wasn't an ounce of fat on him.

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