- to confine (stray animals, illegally parked cars, etc) in a pound
- to take possession of (a document, evidence, etc) and hold in legal custody
- to collect (water) in a reservoir or dam, as for irrigation
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
im•pound /ɪmˈpaʊnd/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Lawto seize and keep (possessions, etc.) in the custody of the law:a new law to impound any property owned by aliens.
im•pound
(v. im pound′;n. im′pound),USA pronunciation v.t.
n.
im•pound′a•ble, adj.
im•pound′er, n.
- to shut up in a pound or other enclosure, as a stray animal.
- to confine within an enclosure or within limits:water impounded in a reservoir.
- Lawto seize and retain in custody of the law, as a document for evidence.
n.
- money, property, etc., that has been impounded:a sale of impounds by the police department.
- im-3 + pound3 1545–55
im•pound′er, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
impound /ɪmˈpaʊnd/ vb (transitive)
'impound' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
dog-catcher
- poind
- pound
- dogcatcher
- hayward
- impoundment
- intern
- pinfold
- pond
- unimpounded