The pound is the actual unit of measurement, while “lbs.”, which stands for libra, is the common abbreviation used in expressing pounds. History/origin: The pound descended from the Roman libra, and numerous different definitions of the pound were used throughout history prior to the international avoirdupois pound that is widely used today. The avoirdupois pound is equivalent to 16 avoirdupois ounces.

Definition: A pound (symbol: lb) is a unit of mass used in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. The meter and the second are defined in terms of c, the speed of light, and cesium frequency, ΔνCs. Eg 100 pounds… Divide by two = 50 Kg. The Roman ancestor of the modern pound, the libra, is the source of the abbreviation lb. The avoirdupois system is a system that was commonly used in the 13th century. 1 kg = 2.2046226218 lbs1 lbs = 0.45359237 kg, Example: convert 15 kg to lbs:15 kg = 15 × 2.2046226218 lbs = 33.0693393277 lbs, Kilogram to Kilogram-force Square Second/meter, Kilogram to Pound-force Square Second/foot, Kilogram to Tetradrachma (Biblical Greek). This prototype weight could be divided into 16 ounces, a number that had three even divisors (8, 4, 2). The kilogram was originally defined as the mass of one liter of water at its freezing point in 1794, but was eventually re-defined, since measuring the mass of a volume of water was imprecise and cumbersome. Historically, in different parts of the world, at different points in time, and for different applications, the pound (or its translation) has referred to broadly similar but not identical standards of mass or force. This is evidenced by the fact that the mass of the original prototype for the kilogram now weighs 50 micrograms less than other copies of the standard kilogram. Pound. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. A lively and informative new podcast for kids that the whole family will enjoy! Definitions of Pounds and Kilograms. This is at least in part due to the inconsistencies and lack of coherence that can arise through use of centimeter-gram-second systems, such as those between the systems of electrostatic and electromagnetic units.
The correct way of abbreviation in expressing singular or plural pounds is “lb.” Take off 1/10th = (50 – 5) = 45 Kg. pounds to crith pounds to myriagram ›› Definition: Pound. Many versions of the pound existed in the past in the United Kingdom (UK), and although the UK largely uses the International System of Units, pounds are still used within certain contexts, such as labelling of packaged foods (by law the metric values must also be displayed). In medieval England several derivations of the libra vied for general acceptance. “Pound”‘s Latin origins are also the reason the symbol for the British currency, pounds, is an L—L for libra! The pound is a measurement of mass used in the imperial system, and is accepted on a day-to-day basis as a unit of weight (the gravitational force acting on any given object). Definition: A pound (symbol: lb) is a unit of mass used in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Unlike the other SI base units, the kilogram is the only SI base unit with an SI prefix. The abbreviation. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The pound unit of weight is also known as the imperial pound, avoirdupois pound and international pound. Large payments were reckoned in “pounds of sterlings,” later shortened to “pounds sterling.”. The changes were intended to improve the definitions of SI base units, not to actually change how the units are used throughout the world. The several trade pounds in common use were reduced to just two: the troy pound, primarily for precious metals, and the pound avoirdupois, for other goods sold by weight.…, The pound is defined as equal to 0.45359237 kg, exactly.…, This pound was brought to Britain and other provinces where it became the standard for weighing gold and silver and for use in all commercial transactions. The avoirdupois pound is equivalent to 16 avoirdupois ounces. This article was most recently revised and updated by. The pound (abbreviation: lb) is a unit of mass or weight in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. Pounds. Current use: As a base unit of SI, the kilogram is used globally in nearly all fields and applications, with the exception of countries like the United States, where the kilogram is used in many areas, at least to some extent (such as science, industry, government, and the military) but typically not in everyday applications.

Current use: The pound as a unit of weight is widely used in the United States, often for measuring body weight. The troy pound, believed to have originated in Troyes, France, superseded the lighter Tower pound in 1527 as the gold and silver standard. This convenience could be the reason that the system was more popular than other systems of the time that used 10, 12, or 15 subdivisions. The international avoirdupois pound (the common pound used today) is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. . 2.“Pound” and “lbs.” are essentially the same thing. Prior to the current definition, the kilogram was defined as being equal to the mass of a physical prototype, a cylinder made of a platinum-iridium alloy, which was an imperfect measure. The most commonly used pound today is the international avoirdupois pound. It was updated to its current form in 1959. Please provide values below to convert kilogram [kg] to pound [lbs], or vice versa. Pound, unit of avoirdupois weight, equal to 16 ounces, 7,000 grains, or 0.45359237 kg, and of troy and apothecaries’ weight, equal to 12 ounces, 5,760 grains, or 0.3732417216 kg. Example: convert 15 kg to lbs: The international avoirdupois pound (the common pound used today) is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. s-1. Among the earliest of these, the Tower pound, so called because its standard was kept in the Royal Mint in the Tower of London, was applied to precious metals and drugs and contained 5,400 grains, or 0.350 kg, whereas the mercantile pound contained 6,750 grains, or 0.437 kg. A new definition of the kilogram was introduced in 2019 based on Planck's constant and changes to the definition of the second. History/origin: The name kilogram was derived from the French "kilogramme," which in turn came from adding Greek terminology meaning "a thousand," before the Late Latin term "gramma" meaning "a small weight.".
Even though the definition of the kilogram was changed in 2019, the actual size of the unit remained the same.

Its size can vary from system to system. It is a system that was based on a physical standardized pound that used a prototype weight. The British monetary pound is historically linked with the minting of silver coins (sterlings) from the Tower pound. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. This is close to the genuine answer of 45.35923kg, and is a much easier sum to do in your head! Pound, unit of avoirdupois weight, equal to 16 ounces, 7,000 grains, or 0.45359237 kg, and of troy and apothecaries’ weight, equal to 12 ounces, 5,760 grains, or 0.3732417216 kg.The Roman ancestor of the modern pound, the libra, is the source of the abbreviation lb.In medieval England several derivations of the libra vied for general acceptance. The UK also often uses both pounds and stones when describing body weight, where a stone is comprised of 14 pounds. Increased trade with France led also to the adoption of the 16-ounce avoirdupois pound in the 16th century to replace the mercantile pound. SI is a system based on the meter-kilogram-second system of units rather than a centimeter-gram-second system.