Main Entry:

¹gross

Pronunciation:

\ˈgrōs\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English grosse, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French gros large, thick, whole, from Late Latin grossus coarse

Date:

14th century

1 aarchaic : immediately obvious b (1): glaringly noticeable usually because of inexcusable badness or objectionableness <a gross error> (2): out-and-out, utter <a gross injustice> c: visible without the aid of a microscope2 a: big, bulky ; especially : excessively fat b: growing or spreading with excessive luxuriance3 a: of, relating to, or dealing with general aspects or broad distinctions b: consisting of an overall total exclusive of deductions <gross income> — compare net4: made up of material or perceptible elements5archaic : not fastidious in taste : undiscriminating6 a: coarse in nature or behavior : unrefined b: gravely deficient in civility or decency : crudely vulgar <merely gross, a scatological rather than a pornographic impropriety — Aldous Huxley> c: inspiring disgust or distaste <that sandwich looks gross>7: deficient in knowledge : ignorant, untutored

synonyms see coarse, flagrant

— gross·ly adverb

— gross·ness noun