lb

The word “lb” means abbreviation for "pound," the unit of weight. In plain terms, the standard written abbreviation for pounds in weight.

“Lb” is pronounced pownd (/paʊnd/ in IPA).

Here is “lb” used in a sentence: “The recipe calls for 2 lb of flour.”

“Lb” is a noun.

The word “lb” comes from Latin. From Latin libra, the Roman unit of weight, whose abbreviation survived even though the English word became "pound.".

“Lb” is a fairly common word in modern English.

"Lb" comes from the Latin word "libra," part of the phrase "libra pondo," meaning a pound by weight. That Latin origin is why the abbreviation "lb" looks nothing like the English word "pound."

"Lb" is the standard abbreviation for pound and is technically used for both singular and plural, so "5 lb" is correct. However, "lbs" is very common in everyday writing to mark the plural, as in "5 lbs." In formal and scientific contexts, "lb" without an "s" is preferred.

Both are imperial units of weight: "lb" stands for pound and "oz" stands for ounce. There are 16 ounces in one pound, so "oz" measures smaller amounts and "lb" measures larger ones.

Style guides generally recommend a space, as in "10 lb." In British English the abbreviation is usually written without a full stop, while American usage sometimes adds a period ("lb."). It is never written with a plural apostrophe.