Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of mass: A "gross ton" is a British imperial unit of mass equal to 2,240 pounds (approximately 1,016.05 kilograms). It is also known as a "long ton."

Usage

• The "gross ton" is primarily used in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries for measuring large masses, such as the displacement of ships or the weight of heavy commodities.
• It contrasts with the "short ton" (2,000 pounds) used in the United States and the metric "tonne" (1,000 kilograms).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The ship's displacement was measured at 15,000 gross tons.
  • The cargo of coal weighed over 500 gross tons.

Advanced Usage

• "Gross register tonnage (GRT)": A related but distinct maritime term. It is a measure of a ship's total internal volume, where one gross register ton is equal to 100 cubic feet. Although it contains the word "ton," it is a unit of volume, not mass. The "gross ton" (long ton) may be used in calculations related to a ship's weight or displacement, while GRT refers to its enclosed space.

Variants and Related Words

• Long ton: A direct synonym for "gross ton."
• Ton: In British contexts, "ton" can often mean "gross ton" or "long ton," but this can lead to ambiguity without clear context.
• Short ton: The US unit of 2,000 pounds.
• Tonne (metric ton): The metric unit of 1,000 kilograms.

Synonyms

• Long ton

Antonyms

• (Conceptual) There is no direct antonym, but it is a different unit from:
  • Short ton
  • Tonne

Related Phrases

• Deadweight tonnage (DWT): The total weight a ship can carry, often expressed in long tons.
  • The vessel has a deadweight tonnage of 80,000 gross tons.
• Gross tonnage (GT): A modern, dimensionless measure of a ship's overall internal volume, replacing Gross Register Tonnage (GRT) in international conventions. It is not a unit of weight.

Noun

1. a British unit of weight equivalent to 2240 pounds