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   ton

   /tən/

   noun

   • 1. a unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds avoirdupois (907.19 kg). North American
   • ▪ a unit of weight equal to 2,240 pounds avoirdupois (1016.05 kg).
   • ▪ short for metric ton
   • ▪ a unit of measurement of a ship's weight representing the weight of water it displaces, equal to 2,240 pounds or 35 cubic feet (0.99 cu m).
   • ▪ a unit of weight or volume of sea cargo, equal to a metric ton (1,000 kg) or 40 cubic feet.
   • 2. a unit of gross internal capacity, equal to 100 cubic feet (2.83 cu. m).
   • ▪ an equivalent unit of net internal capacity.
   • ▪ a unit of refrigerating power able to freeze 2,000 pounds of water at 0°C in 24 hours.
   • ▪ a measure of capacity for various materials, especially 40 cubic feet of timber.
   • 3. a large number or amount: informal "all of a sudden I had tons of friends"

   Word Origin Middle English: variant of tun, both spellings being used for the container and the weight. The senses were differentiated in the late 17th century.

   Scrabble Points: 3

   • T

     1

   • O

     1

   • N

     1

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