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    pool

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    pool
    I
    pool1 S2 W2 /puːl/ noun
     Sense 1-3
     Language: Old English
     Origin: pol
     Sense 4, 5-8
     Date: 1600-1700
     Language: French
     Origin: poule 'hen'; perhaps because a chicken was the target or prize in a game

    1.  FOR SWIMMING  [countable] a hole or container that has been specially made and filled with water so that people can swim or play in it
       SYN  swimming pool:
        They have a nice pool in their backyard.
        a shallow pool suitable for children
    2.  AREA OF WATER  [countable] a small area of still water in a hollow place:
        pools of water with tiny fish in them
        Mosquitoes breed in stagnant pools of water.
    3. pool of water/blood/light etc a small area of liquid or light on a surface:
        A guard found him lying in a pool of blood.
        a pool of light formed by the street lamp above
    4.  GAME  [uncountable] a game in which you use a stick to hit numbered balls into holes around a table, which is often played in bars
        shoot/play pool
        We went to the pub and played pool.
    5.  GROUP OF PEOPLE  [countable] a group of people who are available to work or to do an activity when they are needed
        pool of
        a pool of talented applicants to choose from
        The region has a large and talented labour pool.
    6.  SHARED MONEY/THINGS  [countable usually singular] a number of things that are shared or an amount of money that is shared by a group of people:
        Both partners put money into a common pool.
    7. the pools a system in Britain in which people try to win money each week by guessing the results of football games:
        I do the pools sometimes.
        Dad won £40 on the pools.
    8.  SPORTS  [countable] American English a game in which people try to win money by guessing the result of a sports game, or the money that is collected from these people for this:
        the office basketball pool
         
    THESAURUS
       ▪ lake a large area of water surrounded by land: Lake Michigan | We went for a swim in the lake.
       ▪ lagoon an area of water that is separated from the sea by rocks, sand, or coral: a tropical lagoon | coastal lagoons
       ▪ loch in Scotland, a lake or an area of sea water that is almost completely surrounded by land: Loch Ness | a sea loch
       ▪ reservoir a lake, especially an artificial one, where water is stored before it is supplied to people's houses: The reservoirs supply water to Greater Manchester.
       ▪ pond a small area of fresh water that is smaller than a lake, which is either natural or artificially made: There were several ducks on the village pond.
       ▪ pool a small area of still water in a hollow place: a pool of water near the summit of the mountain | a rockpool (=a pool in some rocks near the sea)
       ▪ puddle a very small area of water on the ground, especially after it has been raining: She turned quickly to avoid stepping in a puddle.
       ▪ waterhole a small area of water in a dry country, where wild animals go to drink: The waterhole is used by elephants.

    II
    pool2 verb [transitive]
    to combine your money, ideas, skills etc with those of other people so that you can all use them:
        Investors agreed to pool their resources to develop the property.
        The students worked together, pooling their knowledge.