pools

1. A small and rather deep collection of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream; a reservoir for water.

   the pools of Solomon

2. A small body of standing or stagnant water; a puddle.
3. A supply of resources.

   There is a limited pool of candidates from which to choose the new manager.

4. (by extension) A set of resources that are kept ready to use.
5. A small amount of liquid on a surface.

   a pool of blood

6. A localized glow of light.

verb

(of a liquid) To form a pool.

1. (game) A game at billiards, in which each of the players stakes a certain sum, the winner taking the whole; also, in public billiard rooms, a game in which the loser pays the entrance fee for all who engage in the game.
2. A cue sport played on a pool table. There are 15 balls, 7 of one colour, 7 of another, and the black ball (also called the 8 ball). A player must pocket all their own colour balls and then the black ball in order to win.
3. In rifle shooting, a contest in which each competitor pays a certain sum for every shot he makes, the net proceeds being divided among the winners.
4. Any gambling or commercial venture in which several persons join.
5. The stake played for in certain games of cards, billiards, etc.; an aggregated stake to which each player has contributed a share; also, the receptacle for the stakes.
6. A combination of persons contributing money to be used for the purpose of increasing or depressing the market price of stocks, grain, or other commodities; also, the aggregate of the sums so contributed.

   He put $10,000 into the pool.

7. A set of players in quadrille etc.
8. A mutual arrangement between competing lines, by which the receipts of all are aggregated, and then distributed pro rata according to agreement.
9. An aggregation of properties or rights, belonging to different people in a community, in a common fund, to be charged with common liabilities.

1. To put together; contribute to a common fund, on the basis of a mutual division of profits or losses; to make a common interest of.

   We must pool our resources.

2. To combine or contribute with others, as for a commercial, speculative, or gambling transaction.

noun

A pool of water used for swimming, usually one which has been artificially constructed.