English

Verb

impound ‎(third-person singular simple present impounds, present participle impounding, simple past and past participle impounded)

1. (transitive) To shut up or place in an enclosure called a pound.

   His car got impounded after he'd parked illegally.

2. (transitive) To hold back, as water by a dam.
3. (transitive, law) To hold in the custody of a court or its delegate.

   to impound stray cattle; to impound a document for safe keeping.

4. (transitive, law, banking) To collect and hold (funds) for payment of property taxes and insurance on property in which one has a security interest.

Translations

Noun

impound ‎(plural impounds)

1. A place in which things are impounded.
   • 1997, Edward Bunker, Dog Eat Dog, page 36:

     "You're gonna drive me to the impound so I can get my car?"

2. A state of being impounded.
   • 2010, Neal Locke, No Plan, page 161:

     I already checked that out, and Keller has never called to get it out of impound.

3. That which has been impounded.
   • 2002, James E. Wollrab, Malfeasance, page 190:

     He handed the keys to the woman and pointed toward the corner of the lot where the impounds were stored.

4. (law, banking) Amounts collected from a debtor and held by one with a security interest in property for payment of property taxes and insurance.

See also

• escrow