Definition of 'gross'

Word Frequency

gross

(groʊs )

Word forms: comparative grosser , superlative grossest , 3rd person singular present tense grosses , present participle grossing , past tense, past participle grossed language note: The plural of the number is gross.

1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

You use gross to describe something unacceptable or unpleasant to a very great amount, degree, or intensity.

The company were guilty of gross negligence.

...an act of gross injustice.

Synonyms: flagrant, obvious, glaring, blatant More Synonyms of gross

grossly adverb [ADVERB -ed/adjective]

Funding of education had been grossly inadequate for years.

She was grossly overweight.

2. adjective

If you say that someone's speech or behaviour is gross, you think it is very rude or unacceptable.

[disapproval]

He abused the Admiral in the grossest terms.

I feel disgusted and wonder how I could ever have been so gross.

3. adjective

If you describe something as gross, you think it is very unpleasant.

[informal, disapproval]

I spat them out because they tasted so gross.

He wears really gross holiday outfits.

4. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]

If you describe someone as gross, you mean that they are extremely fat and unattractive.

[disapproval]

I only resist things like chocolate if I feel really gross.

5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Gross means the total amount of something, especially money, before any has been taken away.

...a fixed rate account guaranteeing 10.4% gross interest or 7.8% net until October.

Gross is also an adverb.

Interest is paid gross, rather than having tax deducted.

...a father earning £20,000 gross a year.

6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Gross means the total amount of something, after all the relevant amounts have been added together.

National Savings gross sales in June totalled £709 million.

Synonyms: total, whole, entire, aggregate More Synonyms of gross

7. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Gross means the total weight of something, including its container or wrapping.

8. verb

If a person or a business grosses a particular amount of money, they earn that amount of money before tax has been taken away.

[business]

I'm a factory worker who grossed £9,900 last year. [VERB noun]

So far the films have grossed more than £590 million. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: earn, make, take, bring in More Synonyms of gross

9. number

A gross is a group of 144 things.

He ordered twelve gross of the disks. [+ of]

Phrasal verbs:

gross out

More Synonyms of gross

Video: pronunciation of 'gross'

Word Frequency

gross in British

(ɡrəʊs )

adjective

repellently or excessively fat or bulky

with no deductions for expenses, tax, etc; total

gross sales

gross income

Compare net2 (sense 1)

(of personal qualities, tastes, etc) conspicuously coarse or vulgar

obviously or exceptionally culpable or wrong; flagrant

gross inefficiency

lacking in perception, sensitivity, or discrimination

gross judgments

(esp of vegetation) dense; thick; luxuriant

7. obsolete

coarse in texture or quality

8. rare

rude; uneducated; ignorant

exclamation slang

an exclamation indicating disgust

noun

10. Word forms: plural gross

a unit of quantity equal to 12 dozen

11. Word forms: plural grosses

the entire amount

the great majority

verb (transitive)

12.

to earn as total revenue, before deductions for expenses, tax, etc

Derived forms

grossly (ˈgrossly)

adverb

grossness (ˈgrossness)

noun

Word origin of 'gross'

C14: from Old French gros large, from Late Latin grossus thick

Word Frequency

gross in American

(groʊs ; grōs)

adjective

big or fat and coarse-looking; corpulent; burly

glaring; flagrant; very bad

a gross miscalculation

dense; thick

lacking fineness, as in texture

lacking fine distinctions or specific details

lacking in refinement or perception; insensitive; dull

vulgar; obscene; coarse

gross language

7. Slang

unpleasant, disgusting, offensive, etc.

with no deductions; total; entire

gross income

gross in Accounting 1

(groʊs)

adjective

(Accounting: Basic)

Gross refers to the total amount of something, especially money, before anything has been taken away.

COLLOCATIONS:

~ amount~ revenue~ sales~ total

This is a fixed-rate account guaranteeing 10.4 percent gross interest or 7.8 percent net.

Annual gross revenue from the facility is expected to be about $5 million.

Gross refers to the total amount of something, especially money, before anything has been taken away.

gross profit, gross profit margin

Related wordsThe opposite of gross is net. The net amount of something is the amount that remains after subtracting taxes, expenses, losses, and costs.

Word Frequency

gross in Accounting 2

(groʊs)

Word forms: (present) grosses, (past) grossed, (perfect) grossed, (progressive) grossing

verb

(Accounting: Financial statements, Income statement)

If a person or a company grosses a particular amount of money, they earn it as total revenue, before deductions such as expenses and tax.

The popular brand grossed $65 million in sales last year.

By her third year, she was grossing $6 million, thanks to a fortuitous contract with the superstore.

If a person or a company grosses a particular amount of money, they earn it as total revenue, before deductions such as expenses and tax.

Word Frequency

gross in Retail 1

(groʊs)

adjective

(Retail: Management accounts)

Gross refers to the total amount of something, especially money, before anything has been taken away.

COLLOCATIONS:

~ amount~ revenue~ sales~ total

This is a fixed-rate account guaranteeing 10.4 percent gross interest or 7.8 percent net.

Annual gross revenue from the new store is expected to be about $5 million.

Gross refers to the total amount of something, especially money, before anything has been taken away.

gross profit, gross profit margin

Related wordsCompare gross with net which refers to the amount of something that remains after subtracting taxes, expenses, losses and costs.

Word Frequency

gross in Retail 2

(groʊs)

Word forms: (present) grosses, (past) grossed, (perfect) grossed, (progressive) grossing

verb

(Retail: Management accounts)

If a person or a company grosses a particular amount of money, they earn it as total revenue, before deductions such as expenses and tax.

The popular brand grossed $65 million in sales last year.

By her third year, she was grossing $6 million, thanks to a fortuitous contract with the superstore.

If a person or a company grosses a particular amount of money, they earn it as total revenue, before deductions such as expenses and tax.

Example sentences containing 'gross'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

This smacks of gross negligence and it is the public who will suffer. The Sun (2006)The deduction is allowed in computing adjusted gross income. Christianity Today (2000)It would be pointless to agree a tax on gross profits as racing would lose out. The Sun (2008)The claimant did not need to establish either gross negligence or something more serious. Times, Sunday Times (2008)His actions led to him being fired last year for gross misconduct. The Sun (2011)Three others also face a probe over gross misconduct allegations. The Sun (2014)Next also impressed with the way in which it widened gross margins on the retail side. Times, Sunday Times (2006)The ruling of gross negligence is the most serious possible outcome. Times, Sunday Times (2014)It is possible to make charitable donations from your gross pay before income tax has been deducted. Times, Sunday Times (2013)Investments and income can be paid gross of tax and in the currency of your choice. Times, Sunday Times (2010)You could spend the entire gross domestic product on it, and still find shortages. Times, Sunday Times (2008)The gross domestic product of most industrial countries dropped by about 30 per cent. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Its debt has doubled to a huge 195% of gross domestic product since then. Times, Sunday Times (2015)The cast album from the show has grossed about $11 million in sales. Times, Sunday Times (2016)When you feel gross you don't want anyone touching bits of you that wobble. The Sun (2014)Although it's safe to smell it really is quite gross. The Sun (2012)The country will lose about 15 per cent of its gross national product. Radford, Tim & Leggett, Jeremy The Crisis of Life on Earth - our legacy from the second millenium (1990)That means the show alone will have grossed about 3 million. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Britain's budget deficit peaked at under 11% of gross domestic product. Times, Sunday Times (2010)It pays a 15 per cent duty on gross profit its telephone business, which plunged into the red this year. The Sun (2009)They say it was gross misconduct and I'm now suspended. The Sun (2012)It must be remembered that in examining the results of this campaign attention must first be paid, not to the gross totals, but to the percentages. Times, Sunday Times (2015)