ton

¹ton

noun \ˈtən\

plural tons also ton

Definition of TON

1

a : a unit of internal capacity for ships equal to 100 cubic feet —called also register ton b : a unit approximately equal to the volume of a long ton weight of seawater used in reckoning the displacement of ships and equal to 35 cubic feet c : a unit of volume for cargo freight usually reckoned at 40 cubic feet —called also measurement ton

2

: any of various units of weight: a — see weight table b : metric ton

3

: a great quantity : lot <ate tons of cookies> <has tons of money> <a ton of work to do>

Origin of TON

Middle English tunne unit of weight or capacity — more at tun

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Weights and Measures Terms

avoirdupois weight, calorie, denier, kip, pace, twain

Rhymes with TON

bun, done, dun, fen, fun, gun, hon, Hun, jun, maun, none, nun, one, pun, run, shun, son, stun, sun, sunn, tonne, tun, won