A pound is a unit of weight commonly used in the United States and other countries that follow the imperial system. One pound is equivalent to 16 ounces and is approximately 0.45 kilograms in the metric system. The symbol for pound is "lb," which comes from the Latin word "libra." Pounds are often used to measure the weight of various objects, including food, luggage, and body weight. For example, a typical bag of flour might weigh 5 pounds, while a person’s weight is often expressed in pounds, such as 150 lbs. Understanding pounds is essential for cooking, shipping, and health-related measurements.