GROSS
What does "GROSS" mean?
Disgusting or repulsive; also a total amount before deductions, or a quantity of twelve dozen.
Meanings
- Causing disgust; coarse or repulsive. There was a gross smell coming from the back of the fridge. informal
- Total, before any deductions are taken out. Her gross salary looked fine until the taxes came off.
- Glaringly obvious and unacceptable; flagrant. The report cited gross negligence by the contractor. formal
- A quantity of twelve dozen, that is, 144. The stationer ordered a gross of pencils for the school.
Did you know?
- A 'great gross' is a real unit: twelve gross, which works out to 1,728 items - a leftover of the dozen-based counting once used in trade.
Word origin
From Old French 'gros' meaning large or thick, from Late Latin 'grossus' (thick, coarse); the 'twelve dozen' sense comes from French 'grosse douzaine', a 'large dozen'.
Remember it
GROSS holds a double-S like two slugs side by side - which is, well, gross.
A little poem
One word for the wage and the slime in the sink:
the total, the turn-off - they're closer than you think.
couplet
Wordplay
- My boss said my work was gross. I said thanks - I assumed she meant before deductions.
What it teaches
Whether it means 'total' or 'revolting,' gross is the number before life takes its cut.
Quick facts
What does GROSS mean?
Disgusting or repulsive; also a total amount before deductions, or a quantity of twelve dozen.
Is GROSS a valid word?
Yes — GROSS is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is GROSS?
GROSS has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does GROSS come from?
From Old French 'gros' meaning large or thick, from Late Latin 'grossus' (thick, coarse); the 'twelve dozen' sense comes from French 'grosse douzaine', a 'large dozen'.
What can GROSS teach us?
Whether it means 'total' or 'revolting,' gross is the number before life takes its cut.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.