Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small bag or flexible container: A pouch is a small, often soft, bag used for holding or carrying things.
   • A pocket-like anatomical structure: In biology, a pouch is a sac-like structure in an animal's body, such as the one on a kangaroo for carrying young.
   • An enclosed space or cavity: A pouch can refer to any small, contained space or pocket of air or substance.

2. Verb:

   • To bulge or swell outward: To pouch means to protrude or hang loosely in a bag-like shape.
   • To place into a small bag: To pouch something is to put it into a pouch or small container.
   • To send by diplomatic mail: (Specialized usage) To send something via the official diplomatic pouch system.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She kept her coins in a small leather pouch.
  • The kangaroo's pouch protects its joey.
  • The geologist discovered a pouch of natural gas underground.

• Verb:

  • The old sofa cushions had begun to pouch from years of use.
  • He pouched the precious stones for safekeeping.
  • The embassy will pouch the official documents to the capital.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a pouch": To possess a bag-like anatomical feature.

  • Marsupials are known to have a pouch for their young.

• "to pouch one's cheeks": To suck in one's cheeks, creating a hollowed appearance.

  • The old man would pouch his cheeks when he was thinking deeply.

Variants and Related Words

• Pouched (adj): Having or formed into a pouch.

  • The pouched mammal is native to Australia.

• Pouchy (adj): Bulging or hanging loosely like a pouch.

  • He had pouchy eyes from lack of sleep.

Synonyms

• Noun: Bag, sack, pocket, sac, cyst.
• Verb: Bulge, swell, bag, protrude.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(The word 'pouch' is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its verbal uses are typically transitive or intransitive as shown above.)

Related Idioms

• "Pouch mail": Refers to the diplomatic mail system.
  • Sensitive correspondence was always sent via pouch mail.

Noun

1. (anatomy) saclike structure in any of various animals (as a marsupial or gopher or pelican)
2. an enclosed space
   • the trapped miners found a pocket of air
3. a small or medium size container for holding or carrying things

Verb

1. swell or protrude outwards
   • His stomach bulged after the huge meal
2. send by special mail that goes through diplomatic channels
3. put into a small bag