1. n.1 (in full long ton) a unit of weight equal to 2,240 lb. avoirdupois (1016.05 kg).
2 (in full short ton) a unit of weight equal to 2,000 lb. avoirdupois (907.19 kg).
3 (in full metric ton) TONNE.
4 a (in full displacement ton) a unit of measurement of a ship's weight or volume in terms of its displacement of water with the loadline just immersed, equal to 2,240 lb. or 35 cu. ft. (0.99 cubic metres). b (in full freight ton) a unit of weight or volume of cargo, equal to a metric ton (1,000 kg) or 40 cu. ft.
5 a (in full gross ton) a unit of gross internal capacity, equal to 100 cu. ft. (2.83 cubic metres). b (in full net or register ton) an equivalent unit of net internal capacity.
6 a unit of refrigerating power able to freeze 2,000 lb. of ice at 0°C in 24 hours.
7 a measure of capacity for various materials, esp. 40 cu. ft. of timber.
8 (usu. in pl.) colloq. a large number or amount (tons of money).
9 esp. Brit. sl. a a speed of 100 m.p.h. b a sum of {pound}100. c a score of 100.
Phrases and idioms:
ton-mile one ton of goods carried one mile, as a unit of traffic. ton-up Brit. sl. n. a speed of 100 m.p.h.
--attrib.adj.
1. (of a motor cyclist) achieving this, esp. habitually and recklessly (ton-up kid).
2 fond or capable of travelling at high speed. weigh a ton colloq. be very heavy.
Etymology: orig. the same word as TUN: differentiated in the 17th c. 2. n.1 a prevailing mode or fashion.
2 fashionable society.
Etymology: F