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# ton

noun (a ton, tons); slang (tons of, a ton of)

«ton» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A ton is a large unit of weight. In the UK an old ton is 2,240 pounds (long ton); in the US a ton is 2,000 pounds (short ton). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#m1)
2. A tonne, or metric ton, is 1,000 kilograms; in science and maths we usually use this. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#m2)
3. (informal) A ton or tons of something means a lot of it: I've got tons of homework. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#m3)
4. (UK, slang) A ton is a hundred: a hundred runs in cricket, a hundred miles an hour, or a hundred pounds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#m4)

### In the lessons

In maths lessons on measurement, pupils convert: 1 tonne = 1,000 kg, so a 2.5-tonne elephant weighs 2,500 kg; lorry weight limits on bridges are given in tonnes. In everyday talk, «tons of», «weighs a ton» and «like a ton of bricks» mean a lot or very heavy. In cricket, scoring «a ton» is making a century (100 runs). Phrases: «tons of», «weighs a ton», «come down on someone like a ton of bricks», «do a ton» (UK, drive at 100 mph).

### Examples

- An elephant can weigh about six tonnes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#x1)
- 1 tonne is the same as 1,000 kilograms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#x2)
- This bag weighs a ton! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#x3)
- I've got tons of homework tonight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#x4)
- (UK, slang) The batsman scored a ton — one hundred runs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#x5)
- The bridge sign says lorries must weigh less than 7.5 tonnes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#x6)
- If you're cheeky, the teacher will come down on you like a ton of bricks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#x7)
- "We'll wager you a ton of coined gold, a hundred pounds to the hundred-weight." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/#x8)

### Note

Homophone trap: «ton» and «tonne» sound the same ("tun"), but tonne = 1,000 kg exactly; ton (US) ≈ 907 kg; ton (UK long) ≈ 1,016 kg. In school maths, use tonnes (t). «Tons of» (a lot) is informal and not an exact number. Maths: tonnes → kg, multiply by 1,000.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «ton» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/ton/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«ton» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ton.html) on Mova free.