ton

noun (1)

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\ ˈtən

plural tons also ton

Definition of ton

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : any of various units of weight:

a : short ton — see Weights and Measures Table

b : metric ton

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

3a : 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

ton

noun (2)

\ ˈtōⁿ

Definition of ton (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the prevailing fashion : vogue

2 : the quality or state of being smart or fashionable

History and Etymology for ton

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

borrowed from French, "pitch, tone, manner, style," going back to Old French, "sound of voices, voice quality," going back to Latin tonus "strain, tension, musical pitch, note" — more at tone entry 1

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Dictionary Entries Near ton

-tomy

ton

tonada

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Cite this Entry

“Ton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ton. Accessed 30 Nov. 2021.

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More Definitions for ton

ton

noun

\ ˈtən

Kids Definition of ton

: a measure of weight equal either to 2000 pounds (about 907 kilograms) ( short ton ) or 2240 pounds (about 1016 kilograms) ( long ton ) with the short ton being more frequently used in the United States and Canada