Topic: MEASUREMENT
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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | unce, from Latin uncia 'twelfth part, ounce' |
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ounce S3
[countable] written abbreviation oz
[countable] written abbreviation oz1TM a unit for measuring weight, equal to 28.35 grams. There are 16 ounces in a pound. ➔ fluid ounce
2 any sense, truth etc at all : 
If you had an ounce of sense you wouldn't believe him!
an ounce of sense/truth/decency etc
If you had an ounce of sense you wouldn't believe him!3 all the courage, energy etc that you have : Every ounce of attention was focused on our common goal.
every (last) ounce of courage/energy/strength etc
Every ounce of attention was focused on our common goal.4 used to say that it is better to prevent a problem before it happens than to try to solve it after it has happened
an ounce of prevention (is worth a pound of cure)
5 if there is not an ounce of fat on someone, they are thin and usually look healthy
