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n. 1. A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds (0.907 metric ton or 907.18 kilograms). Also called net ton, short ton. 2. A unit of weight equal to 2,240 pounds (1.016 metric tons or 1,016.05 kilograms). Also called long ton. 3. A metric ton. See Table at measurement. 4. A unit of capacity for cargo in maritime shipping, normally estimated at 40 cubic feet. 5. A unit of internal capacity of a ship equal to 100 cubic feet. 6. A unit for measuring the displacement of ships, equal to 35 cubic feet, and supposed to equal the volume taken by a long ton of seawater. 7. often tons Informal a. A large extent, amount, or number: has a ton of work; gets tons of fan mail. b. Used adverbially with a or in the plural to mean "to a great degree or extent" or "frequently": felt a ton better; has seen her tons lately. [Middle English tonne, a measure of weight; see TUN.] |
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