First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1gross
adjective \ˈgrōs\
: very obvious or noticeable
: rude or offensive
: very disgusting
Full Definition of GROSS
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
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>
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Origin of GROSS
Middle English grosse, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French gros large, thick, whole, from Late Latin grossus coarse
Related to GROSS
Synonym Discussion of GROSS
coarse, vulgar, gross, obscene, ribald mean offensive to good taste or morals. coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language <found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive>. vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding <a loud vulgar belch>. gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness <gross eating habits>. obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters <obscene language not allowed on the air>. ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent <entertained the campers with ribald folk songs>.
flagrant, glaring, gross, rank mean conspicuously bad or objectionable. flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned <flagrant abuse of the office of president>. glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper <glaring errors>. gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits <gross carelessness>. rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned <rank heresy>.
flagrant, glaring, gross, rank mean conspicuously bad or objectionable. flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned <flagrant abuse of the office of president>. glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper <glaring errors>. gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits <gross carelessness>. rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned <rank heresy>.
2gross
noun
Definition of GROSS
2
: overall total exclusive of deductions
First Known Use of GROSS
1579
Other Economics Terms
3gross
verb
Definition of GROSS
transitive verb
: to earn or bring in (an overall total) exclusive of deductions (as for taxes or expenses)
— gross·er noun
First Known Use of GROSS
1884
Other Economics Terms
4gross
noun
plural gross
Definition of GROSS
: an aggregate of 12 dozen things <a gross of pencils>
Origin of GROSS
Middle English gros, probably from Anglo-French grosse sum, whole, from feminine of gros
First Known Use: 14th century
Gross
biographical name \ˈgrōs\
Definition of GROSS
David J(onathan) 1941– Am. physicist
GROSSNESS Defined for Kids
1gross
adjective \ˈgrōs\
gross·ergross·est
Definition of GROSS for Kids
1
: noticeably bad : glaring <a gross error>
2
: disgusting <a gross habit>
3
: consisting of a whole before anything is subtracted <gross earnings>
4
: showing poor manners : vulgar
2gross
noun
Definition of GROSS for Kids
: the whole before anything is deducted
3gross
noun
plural gross
Definition of GROSS for Kids
: twelve dozen
Medical Dictionary
gross
adjective \ˈgrōs\
Medical Definition of GROSS
1
a : glaringly or flagrantly obvious b : visible without the aid of a microscope : macroscopic <gross lesions>—compare occult
2
: growing or spreading with excessive or abnormal luxuriance
3
: of, relating to, or dealing with general aspects or broad distinctions <important to understand the gross behavior of the sexually responding animal—A. C. Kinsey>
—gross·ly adverb
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