Meaning & use
ounce
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Meanings
nouncountable
A unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of a pound, about 28.35 grams.
Grammar: Countable; use 'an ounce' for one, 'ounces' for more.
Patterns
- an ounce of something
- X ounces of something
The recipe calls for four ounces of chocolate.
This package weighs about eight ounces.
Gold is often measured in troy ounces.
nounsingularfigurative
A very small amount of something, especially a quality or feeling.
Grammar: Used in the phrase 'an ounce of' with an uncountable noun; often in negative contexts.
Patterns
- an ounce of something
- not an ounce of something
She doesn't have an ounce of patience.
There isn't an ounce of truth in that rumor.
He showed an ounce of courage when he spoke up.
Word forms
| plural | ounces |
|---|
Common combinations
- fluid ounce
- Add two fluid ounces of milk to the mixture.
- troy ounce
- The price of silver is quoted per troy ounce.
- an ounce of prevention
- An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
- every ounce of
- She used every ounce of her strength to lift the box.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- oz abbreviation
- Short form for ounce(s), used in writing measurements.
Commonly confused: ounce or gram? ounce or ounce?
ounce vs gram
A gram is a metric unit (about 0.035 ounces); an ounce is larger and part of the imperial system.
ounce vs ounce
Not to be confused with 'ounce' as a snow leopard, which is a different word.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ounce' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Choice 0 is correct because 'ounce' is a unit of weight and can be used for sugar. Choice 1 is wrong because 'ounce' is not a verb. Choice 2 is wrong because an ounce is not a bird. Choice 3 is wrong because 'ounce' is not used to count friends.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ounce”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.