ton1 [t?n]
(abbrev.: t, also US tn)
¦ noun
1. (also long ton) a unit of weight equal to 2,240 lb avoirdupois (1016.05 kg).
2. (also short ton) chiefly N. Amer. a unit of weight equal to 2,000 lb avoirdupois (907.19 kg).
4. (also displacement ton) a unit of measurement of a ship's weight representing the weight of water it displaces with the load line just immersed, equal to 2,240 lb or 35 cu. ft (0.99 cubic metres).
5. (also freight ton) a unit of weight or volume of sea cargo, equal to a metric ton (1,000 kg) or 40 cu. ft.
6. (also gross ton) a unit of gross internal capacity, equal to 100 cu. ft (2.83 cubic metres).
(also net or register ton) an equivalent unit of net internal capacity.
7. a unit of refrigerating power able to freeze 2,000 lb of water at 0°C in 24 hours.
8. a measure of capacity for various materials, especially 40 cu. ft of wood.
9. informal a large number or amount.
10. Brit. informal a hundred, in particular a speed of 100 mph, a score of 100 or more, or a sum of ?100.
¦ adverb (tons) Brit. informal much; a lot: I feel tons better.
Origin
ME: var. of
tun, both spellings being used for the container and the weight.
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ton2 [t? on]
¦ noun
1. fashionable style or distinction.
2. (the ton) [treated as sing. or plural] fashionable society.
Origin
Fr., from L.
tonus (see
tone).