Bounce vs Pounce - What's the difference?

Pounce is a synonym of bounce.

In intransitive terms the difference between bounce and pounce

is that bounce is to move quickly up and then down, or vice versa, once or repeatedly while pounce is to eagerly seize an opportunity.

In transitive terms the difference between bounce and pounce

is that bounce is to cause to move quickly up and then down, or vice versa, once or repeatedly while pounce is to stamp holes in; to perforate.

bounce

English

(wikipedia bounce)

Verb

(bounc)

To change the direction of motion after hitting an obstacle.

The tennis ball bounced off the wall before coming to rest in the ditch.

To move quickly up and then down, or vice versa, once or repeatedly.

He bounces nervously on his chair.

* {{quote-news, year=2012

, date=May 13 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The Black Cats contributed to their own downfall for the only goal when Titus Bramble, making his first appearance since Boxing Day, and Michael Turner, let Phil Jones' cross bounce across the six-yard box as Rooney tucked in at the back post.}}

To cause to move quickly up and then down, or vice versa, once or repeatedly.

He bounced the child on his knee.

To leap or spring suddenly or unceremoniously; to bound.

She bounced into the room.

To be refused by a bank because it is drawn on insufficient funds.

We can’t accept further checks from you, as your last one bounced .

(informal) To fail to cover (have sufficient funds for) (a draft presented against one's account).

He tends to bounce a check or two toward the end of each month, before his payday.

(slang) To leave.

Let’s wrap this up, I gotta bounce .

(US, slang, dated) To eject violently, as from a room; to discharge unceremoniously, as from employment.

(intransitive, slang, African American Vernacular English) (sometimes employing the preposition with ) To have sexual intercourse.

(air combat) To attack unexpectedly.

The squadron was bounced north of the town.

(electronics) To turn power off and back on; to reset

See if it helps to bounce the router.

(intransitive, Internet, of an e-mail message or address) To return undelivered.

What’s your new email address – the old one bounces .

The girl in the bar told me her address is thirsty@example.com, but my mail to that address bounced back to me.

(aviation) To land hard and lift off again due to excess momentum.

The student pilot bounced several times during his landing.

(slang, dated) To bully; to scold.

(archaic) To strike or thump, so as to rebound, or to make a sudden noise; to knock loudly.

* Jonathan Swift

Another bounces as hard as he can knock.

* Jonathan Swift

Out bounced the mastiff.

(archaic) To boast; to bluster.

Synonyms

* (change direction of motion after hitting an obstacle) bounce back, rebound * (move quickly up and down) bob

Derived terms

* bounceable * bounce back, bounceback * bouncedown * bouncer * bounce rate * bouncing * bouncy * debounce

Noun

(en noun)

A change of direction of motion after hitting the ground or an obstacle.

* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=June 9, author=Owen Phillips, work=BBC Sport

, title= Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark , passage=Krohn-Dehli took advantage of a lucky bounce of the ball after a battling run on the left flank by Simon Poulsen, dummied two defenders and shot low through goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's legs after 24 minutes.}}

A movement up and then down (or vice versa), once or repeatedly.

An email return with any error.

The sack, licensing.

A bang, boom.

* 1773 , (Oliver Goldsmith),

I don't value her resentment the bounce of a cracker.

A drink based on brandy^(w).

* , chapter=6

, title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=He had one hand on the bounce bottle—and he'd never let go of that since he got back to the table—but he had a handkerchief in the other and was swabbing his deadlights with it.}}

A heavy, sudden, and often noisy, blow or thump.

* Dryden

The bounce burst open the door.

Bluster; brag; untruthful boasting; audacious exaggeration; an impudent lie; a bouncer.

(Johnson)

(De Quincey)

Scyllium catulus , a European dogfish.

A genre of New Orleans music.

(slang, African American Vernacular English) Drugs.

(slang, African American Vernacular English) Swagger.

(slang, African American Vernacular English) A 'good' beat.

(slang, African American Vernacular English) A talent for leaping.

Synonyms

* (change of direction of motion after hitting an obstacle) rebound * (movement up and down) bob, bobbing (repeated), bouncing (repeated) * (talent for leaping) ups, mad ups

Derived terms

* bouncy * on the bounce English ergative verbs

pounce

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) ponce, from (etyl) pumex.

Noun

(-)

(historical) A type of fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, sprinkled over wet ink to dry the ink after writing.

(historical) Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lace makers, etc.

Verb

(pounc)

To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.

to pounce paper, or a pattern

Etymology 2

From (etyl), probably akin to punch. Possibly from (etyl) ponchonner (compare French ).

Noun

(en noun)

The claw or talon of a bird of prey.

(Burke)

(Spenser)

A punch or stamp.

* Withals

a pounce to print money with

Cloth worked in eyelet holes.

(Homilies)

Verb

(pounc)

To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something.

''The kitten pounced at the ball I threw to him

She pounced on the young man, because she loved him and wanted him for herself.

To attack suddenly by leaping.

''I was awakened from a dead sleep by my child pouncing on top of me from out of nowhere.

To eagerly seize an opportunity.

I pounced on the chance to get promoted.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=March 2 , author=Chris Whyatt , title=Arsenal 5 - 0 Leyton Orient , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Irish debutant Conor Henderson - another ball-playing midfielder - probed for a gap through the back-line and the 19-year-old's deflected pass was pounced on by Tomas Rosicky, who sped to the byeline to clip a square ball through the legs of Charlie Daniels across the box. }}

To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.

* Cowper

Stooped from his highest pitch to pounce a wren.

* J. Fletcher

Now pounce him lightly, / And as he roars and rages, let's go deeper.

To stamp holes in; to perforate.

Synonyms

* (instance of propelling oneself into air): leap, jump, bounce * (instance of causing oneself to fall from an elevated place): strike, attack (checktrans-top) * Spanish: (t-check) (trans-mid) (trans-bottom)