impound

verb

1. (transitive)To shut up or place in an enclosure called a pound.

   “His car was impounded after he parked it illegally.”

   “Noveria Approach Control: Landing access granted, Normandy. Noveria Approach Control: Be advised: we will be confirming identification on arrival. If confirmation cannot be established, your vessel will be impounded.”

2. (transitive)To hold back.

   “water impounded by a dam”

3. (transitive)To hold in the custody of a court or its delegate.

   “to impound stray cattle”

   “to impound a document for safekeeping.”

   “I particularly enjoyed the tale of the Folkestone tank engine, which, in October, 1886, was impounded by H. M. Customs after smuggled brandy was found concealed in its coal bunker; the tank spent over a month in a harbour siding under Customs seal and proceedings were seriously contemplated against the S.E.R., as well as against the crew, for the engine's part in the affair.”

   “The container thought to have belonged to Garweg was impounded by police and removed from the site by the Federal Agency for Protective Relief (THW) on Sunday and taken for further examination.”

4. (transitive)To collect and hold (funds) for payment of property taxes and insurance on property in which one has a security interest.

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A place in which impounded things are stored.

   “"You're gonna drive me to the impound so I can get my car?"”

2. (uncountable)The state of being impounded.

   “I already checked that out, and Keller has never called to get it out of impound.”

3. (countable, uncountable)That which has been impounded.

   “He handed the keys to the woman and pointed toward the corner of the lot where the impounds were stored.”

4. (countable, uncountable)Amounts collected from a debtor and held by one with a security interest in property for payment of property taxes and insurance.