noun
Common
lb
pownd
Lb (noun) means Abbreviation for "pound," the unit of weight. Example: “Add 1 lb of carrots to the stew and let it simmer.”
noun
1
Abbreviation for "pound," the unit of weight.
"Add 1 lb of carrots to the stew and let it simmer."
"My suitcase was over the limit by 3 lb at check-in."
"The drive system can provide a maximum of 516 lbs ft (700 Nm) at any one time."
— , Green cars at 2012 Geneva motor show – in pictures (2012)
"The recipe calls for 2 lb of flour."
How to use lb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe standard written abbreviation for pounds in weight.
Common mistake
It looks unrelated to "pound" because it comes from the Latin word libra, not the English one.
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Word forms
- Plural
- lbs
Fill the gap
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Add 1 _____ of carrots to the stew and let it simmer.
Etymology
From Latin libra, the Roman unit of weight, whose abbreviation survived even though the English word became "pound."
Synonyms
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pound
pounds
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “lb” mean?
The word “lb” means abbreviation for "pound," the unit of weight. In plain terms, the standard written abbreviation for pounds in weight.
How do you pronounce “lb”?
“Lb” is pronounced pownd (/paʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “lb” in a sentence?
Here is “lb” used in a sentence: “The recipe calls for 2 lb of flour.”
What part of speech is “lb”?
“Lb” is a noun.
Where does the word “lb” come from?
The word “lb” comes from Latin. From Latin libra, the Roman unit of weight, whose abbreviation survived even though the English word became "pound.".
Is “lb” a common word?
“Lb” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Why is "lb" the abbreviation for pound?
"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."
What is the difference between "lb" and "lbs"?
"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.
What is the difference between "lb" and "oz"?
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.
Should there be a space between the number and "lb"?
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.
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