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# pounce

verb (pounce, pounces, pounced, pouncing); noun (a pounce, pounces)

«pounce» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To jump suddenly onto something to catch it, like a cat catching a mouse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#m1)
2. To quickly attack or criticise a mistake or chance: «She pounced on the chance to go». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#m2)
3. (noun) A sudden jump to catch something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science: predators like cats, foxes and lions pounce on prey after stalking it. In stories it tells the reader an attack was sudden and fast. Phrases: «pounce on/upon», «ready to pounce», «pounce on a mistake».

### Examples

- The cat pounced on the toy mouse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#x1)
- The lion crouched, ready to pounce. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#x2)
- The fox pounced on a vole in the snow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#x3)
- She pounced on the chance to be in the play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#x4)
- The teacher pounced on my spelling mistake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#x5)
- With one pounce, the kitten caught the ribbon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#x6)
- In a jiffy he pounced upon it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/#x7)

### Note

Verb: pounced, pouncing (drop e). Usually with «on» or «upon». Do not confuse with «bounce» (to spring back) or «pounds».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pounce» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pounce/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pounce» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pounce.html) on Mova free.