pool

1. (intransitive, of a liquid) To form a pool.

1. (games, uncountable) A game at billiards, in which each of the players stakes a certain sum, the winner taking the whole; also, in public billiard rooms, a game in which the loser pays the entrance fee for all who engage in the game.

2. (sports) A cue sport played on a pool table. There are 15 balls, 7 of one colour or solids, 7 of another color or stripes, and the black ball (also called the 8 ball). A player must pocket all their own colour balls and then the black ball in order to win.Examples: "He plays pool at the billiard-houses, and may be seen engaged at cards and dominoes of forenoons."

3. (fencing) A group of fencers taking part in a competition.Synonyms: poule

4. (rugby union) A set of teams playing each other in the same division, while not during the same period playing any teams that belong to other sets in the division.Synonyms: group

5. (rail transport) A mutual arrangement between competing lines, by which the receipts of all are aggregated, and then distributed pro rata according to agreement.

6. (law) An aggregation of properties or rights, belonging to different people in a community, in a common fund, to be charged with common liabilities.

1. (transitive) To put together; contribute to a common fund, on the basis of a mutual division of profits or losses; to make a common interest of.Examples: "We must pool our resources."; "“She must be exceedingly clever to have beaten the police the way she has for the last few years; and—er—I worship at the shrine of cleverness—especially if it be a woman’s. The idea struck me last night that if she and I should—er—pool our resources, we should not have to complain of the reward.” “Oh, so youse wants to work wid her, eh?” sniffed Rhoda Gray. “So dat’s it, is it?”"; "It all started 6 years ago, as Rutgers University scientists Allan Conney, Ph.D., and George C. Wagner, Ph.D., chatted at an office get-together. […] From this conversation, the two decided to pool their knowledge and join forces."

2. (intransitive) To combine or contribute with others, as for a commercial, speculative, or gambling transaction.