ounce Definition
- 1a unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of a pound (avoirdupois) or 437.5 grains, or one twelfth of a pound (troy) or 480 grains.
- 2a very small amount of something
Using ounce: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ounce" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She bought an ounce of gold.
Example
A recipe calls for two ounces of flour.
Example
He caught a 20-ounce fish.
Example
She added just an ounce of salt to the soup.
ounce Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with ounce
a small effort made to avoid a bigger problem in the future
Example
Taking care of your health is an ounce of prevention against future illnesses.
Example
If he had used an ounce of common sense, he wouldn't have gotten lost in the woods.
Example
It only takes an ounce of courage to speak up for what is right.
Origins of ounce
from Old French 'unce', from Latin 'uncia', meaning 'a twelfth part'
Summary: ounce in Brief
The term 'ounce' [aʊns] refers to a unit of weight, equivalent to one sixteenth of a pound or one twelfth of a pound, or a very small amount of something. It is used in contexts such as recipes and measuring precious metals, exemplified by 'She bought an ounce of gold.' 'Ounce' also appears in phrases like 'ounce of prevention,' referring to small efforts to avoid bigger problems, and 'ounce of courage,' denoting a small amount of bravery.
