Pound (Metric) Conversions
The pound or pound-mass is a measurement of mass used in the imperial system, and is accepted on a day-to-day basis as a unit of weight. Various definitions have been used; the most common today is the international avoirdupois pound, which is legally defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. The international standard symbol for the pound is lb.
Pound Usage
Scientific applications use the pound to describe mass, whilst everyday use sees it as a measure of weight. Despite broad acceptance of the metric system of weights and measures, the pound continues to be used in English-speaking countries.
The pound has historically been the means of describing the weight of shot or shells in weaponry, and the weapons themselves came to be named after the ammunition they would fire, for example a 32-pounder.
In the UK and America the pound is also used to help express pressure, with pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) an accepted standard.