1 : to suddenly jump toward and seize something with or as if with claws The cat waited to pounce. 2 : to act, approach, or attack suddenly or without hesitation I pounced on the opportunity.

to attack suddenly, esp. by jumping or flying down to catch or take hold of something or someone: The mountain lion pounced onto the back of an elk. (Definition of pounce from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)