ounce

ounce
ounce1
/owns/, n.
1. a unit of weight equal to 437.5 grains or 1/16 pound (28.349 grams) avoirdupois.
2. a unit of 480 grains, 1/12 pound (31.103 grams) troy or apothecaries' weight.
3. a fluid ounce.
4. a small quantity or portion.
[1350-1400; ME unce < MF < L uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce, deriv. of unus ONE]
ounce2
/owns/, n.
[1300-50; ME unce lynx < AF; OF once, var. of lonce (erroneously taken as l'once the ounce) < VL *luncea, deriv. of L lync- (s. of lynx) LYNX]

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Unit of weight in the avoirdupois system, the traditional European system of weight, which was incorporated into the British Imperial system and the U.S. system of weights and measures (see measurement).

The ounce is equal to 1/16 lb (437.5 grains). In the troy and apothecaries' systems (two other traditional systems of weight), it is equal to 1/12 troy or apothecaries' lb (480 grains). The avoirdupois ounce is equal to 28.35 g, the troy ounce to 31.1 g. As a unit of volume, the fluid ounce is equal to 1/16 of a pint (29.57 ml) in the U.S. system, and to 1/20 of a pint (28.41 ml) in the British Imperial system. See also gram, International System of Units, metric system, pound.

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▪ unit of weight
      unit of weight in the avoirdupois (avoirdupois weight) system, equal to 1/16 pound (437 1/2 grains), and in the troy (troy weight) and apothecaries' (apothecaries' weight) systems, equal to 480 grains, or 1/12 pound. The avoirdupois ounce is equal to 28.35 grams and the troy and apothecaries' ounce to 31.103 grams. As a unit of volume, the fluid ounce is equal to 1/16of a pint, or 29.57 millilitres, in the U.S. Customary System and to 1/20of a pint, or 28.41 millilitres, in the British Imperial System. As a unit of weight, the ounce derives from the Roman uncia (meaning “twelfth part”), which was 1/12 of a Roman foot or ounce. The standard or physical embodiment of the Roman foot, a copper bar, constituted the Roman pound standard and was divided along its length into 12 equal parts, called unciae. Thus, uncia designated both a unit of weight and one of length and is the source of the modern terms inch and ounce.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ounce — S3 [auns] n written abbreviation oz [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: unce, from Latin uncia twelfth part, ounce ] 1.) a unit for measuring weight, equal to 28.35 grams. There are 16 ounces in a pound. →↑fluid ounce 2.) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Ounce — (ouns), n. [F. once, fr. L. uncia a twelfth, the twelfth part of a pound or of a foot: cf. Gr. o gkos bulk, mass, atom. Cf. 2d {Inch}, {Oke}.] 1. A weight, the sixteenth part of a pound avoirdupois, and containing 28.35 grams or 4371/2 grains.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ounce — 〈[ aʊns] f.; , s [ aʊnsız]; 〉 in den USA u. Großbritannien übliche Gewichtseinheit, 1 oz = 28,35 g * * * Ounce   [aʊns, englisch] die, / s, deutsch Unze, Einheitenzeichen oz, ältere Masseneinheit in Großbritannien und in den USA: im …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Ounce — Ounce, n. [F. once; cf. It. lonza, Sp. onza; prob. for lonce, taken as l once, fr. L. lynx, Gr. ?, or an (assumed) fem. adj. lyncea, from lynx. Cf. {Lynx}.] (Zo[ o]l.) A feline quadruped ({Felis irbis} syn. {Felis uncia}) resembling the leopard… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ounce — ● ounce nom féminin (anglais ounce, du français once) Unité anglaise de masse (symbole oz), dans le système des mesures avoirdupois, égale à 1°16 de pound (environ 28,35 g). ounce [uns] n. f. ÉTYM. XXe; mot angl., du franç. once. → 1. Once. ❖ ♦… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • ounce — [aʊns] written abbreviation oz. noun [countable] a measurement of weight equal to 28.35 grams * * * ounce UK US /aʊns/ noun [C] (WRITTEN ABBREVIATION oz) ► [C] MEASURES a unit of weight equal to 28.35 grams: » …   Financial and business terms

  • ounce — ounce1 [ouns] n. [OFr unce < L uncia, a twelfth, twelfth part of a foot or pound, orig., unit, akin to L unus,ONE] 1. a) a unit of weight, equal to 1/ 16 pound avoirdupois or 16 drams (28.3495 grams) b) a unit of weight, equal to 1/ 12 pound… …   English World dictionary

  • Ounce — Ounce, im englischen Gewichtssystem = 1/16 Pound avoirdupois (Handelspfund) = 16 Drams oder 28,35 g. Ferner 1 Ounce = 1/12 Imperial Troy Pound = 20 Penny Weight oder 31,1035 g …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • Ounce — [auns] die; , s [ aunsiz] <aus gleichbed. engl. ounce, dies über altfr. unce aus lat. uncia »Unze«> engl. Gewichtseinheit (28,35 g); Abk.: oz …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • Ounce — (engl., spr. Auns; d.i. Unze), Gewicht 1) in England a) als Handelsgewicht der 16. Theil eines Pfundes (Avoir dupois), also 1 O. = 28,3 Grammes = 1,69 deutsches Zollloth; getheilt in[527] 16 Drams (Drachmen); b) als Apotheker , Münz , Golo u.… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Ounce — (spr. aunß, »Unze«), engl. Gewicht: im Probiergewicht für Silber 1/12 des Pfundes = 20 Pennyweights; im Feingewicht ebenso (abgekürzt oz.) = 480 Grains Troy = 31,1035 g; im Arzneigewicht zu 8 Drams bis August 1878 die Troyunze, aber gewöhnlich… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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