a unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of a troy pound
"The ancient pharmacist carefully weighed out an ounce of mercury using the traditional apothecary scale."
large feline of upland central Asia having long thick whitish fur
"The rare ounce roamed through the snowy mountains of Central Asia, its long thick whitish fur blending perfectly with the winter landscape."
An avoirdupois ounce, weighing ¹⁄₁₆ of an avoirdupois pound, or 28.3495 grams.
"The ounce stalked silently through the snow-covered pines before vanishing into the woods."
A large wild feline, such as a lynx or cougar.
In plain English: An ounce is a small unit used to measure weight, often seen on food packages or when weighing gold.
"The recipe calls for exactly two ounces of chocolate chips to make the cookies perfect."
Usage: Use "ounce" to refer to the standard unit of weight equal to approximately 28.35 grams when measuring mass in everyday contexts. Avoid using this term for small amounts unless specifically referring to fluid ounces for liquids, which are distinct from dry weight measurements.
The word "ounce" comes from the Latin uncia, which originally referred to various Roman units of weight or measure. It ultimately traces its roots back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "one," sharing that same origin with English words like "inch."