pool
Pluralpools
Pluralpools
- 1Short for swimming pool: a large area of water made for swimming.
The kids splashed in the pool all afternoon.
Let's cool off in the pool after lunch.
UsageSwim in the pool; meet at the pool.
Note
- 2A small, deep area of water, usually fresh, fed by a spring or stream, or left in rocks by the sea.
Like a small natural bathtub of water in a stream.
Fish gathered in the cool pool below the waterfall.
We found a deep pool in the river and went for a swim.
Similarpond
Note
- 3A small amount of water or other liquid lying on the ground or on another surface.
Like a puddle that stays after the rain.
A pool of rainwater sat in the dip of the road.
The kids jumped over a small pool after the storm.
UsageSay a pool of water.
Similarpuddle
- 4A game played on a table with six holes, where players use a long stick to hit balls into the holes.
Like knocking balls into holes on a table with a stick.
They played a game of pool after dinner.
He won every round of pool at the club.
UsageSay play pool or a game of pool.
Note
- 5A group of people or a supply of things that is available for others to use or choose from.
Like a big group of people waiting to be picked for a team.
The team picked players from a big pool of volunteers.
We have a pool of helpers ready for the event.
UsageSay a pool of workers, or choose from a pool.
- 6To put money or things together with others into one shared fund.
Like everyone putting their coins into one big jar.
The roommates pool their cash to pay for groceries.
We pooled our tips and split them evenly.
UsageSay we pooled our money.
Similarcombine, share, merge, consolidate
Note
- 7To collect in one spot and form a small body of liquid.
Like rain gathering in a low spot on the road.
Rainwater began to pool in the corner of the yard.
Tears pooled in her eyes as she read the letter.
UsageSay water pools on the ground.
Similarcollect, gather, accumulate
Oppositedrain
- 8A small group of teams or players in a competition who play against each other in one stage.
Like dividing players into small groups before the big final rounds.
Their team was drawn into a tough pool with three strong sides.
Each pool sends its top two teams to the next round.
UsageSay a team tops its pool.
Similargroup
Note
- 9An arrangement where several people or companies put their money together to bet, invest, or share profits.
Like when friends put their money together to buy one big gift.
Several neighbors joined a pool to buy lottery tickets together.
They started a small pool to invest in the new shop.
UsageSay a betting pool or join a pool.
Similarsyndicate, consortium, fund
Less common meanings
Showing meanings only.
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Origins
From Old English pōl, meaning a small body of water like a pool or pond, going back through Germanic and probably to an older word meaning bog or marsh.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Pool descends from Old English pōl through Germanic ancestry. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English pōl meant a pool or similar body of water. en.wiktionary.org
From French poule, meaning the combined stakes in a game.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- This sense of pool comes from French poule, meaning combined stakes in a game. en.wikisource.org
- The documented early French sense concerns card-game stakes: poule appears in rules for reversis from 1665. publicacions.iec.cat