I. ˈgrōs 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.
a. archaic : 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 microscope
2.
a. : big , bulky ; especially : excessively fat
b. : growing or spreading with excessive luxuriance
3.
a. : of, relating to, or dealing with general aspects or broad distinctions
b. : consisting of an overall total exclusive of deductions
gross income
— compare net
4. : made up of material or perceptible elements
5. archaic : not fastidious in taste : undiscriminating
6.
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
II. noun
Date: 1579
1. obsolete : amount , sum
2. : overall total exclusive of deductions
III. transitive verb
Date: 1884
: to earn or bring in (an overall total) exclusive of deductions (as for taxes or expenses)
• gross·er noun
IV. noun
( plural gross )
Etymology: Middle English gros, probably from Anglo-French grosse sum, whole, from feminine of gros
Date: 14th century
: an aggregate of 12 dozen things
a gross of pencils