gross

¹

[ grohs ]

adjective

, gross·er, gross·est.

1. without deductions; total, as the amount of sales, salary, profit, etc., before taking deductions for expenses, taxes, or the like ( net ):

   gross earnings;

   gross sales.

2. unqualified; complete; rank:

   a gross scoundrel.

3. flagrant and extreme:

   gross injustice.

   Synonyms: grievous, heinous, outrageous, absolute, downright

4. indelicate, indecent, obscene, or vulgar:

   gross remarks.

   Synonyms: broad, coarse, animal, low

   Antonyms: decent

5. lacking in refinement, good manners, education, etc.; unrefined.
6. large, big, or bulky.

   Synonyms: great, massive

   Antonyms: small, diminutive

7. extremely or excessively fat.
8. of or concerning only the broadest or most general considerations, aspects, etc.
9. Slang. extremely objectionable, offensive, or disgusting:

   He wore an outfit that was absolutely gross.

10. thick; dense:

    gross vegetation;

    gross fog;

    gross vapors.

noun

, plural gross gross·es

1. a group of 12 dozen, or 144, things. : gro.
2. total income from sales, salary, etc., before any deductions ( net ).
3. Obsolete. the main body, bulk, or mass.

verb (used with object)

1. to have, make, or earn as a total before any deductions, as of taxes, expenses, etc.:

   The company grossed over three million dollars last year.

verb phrase

1. Slang.
   1. to disgust or offend, especially by crude language or behavior.
   2. to shock or horrify.

Gross

²

[ grohs ]

noun

1. Chaim [kh, ahym], 1904–1991, U.S. sculptor and graphic artist, born in Austria.

gross

/ ɡrəʊs /

adjective

1. repellently or excessively fat or bulky
2. See net
   with no deductions for expenses, tax, etc; total Compare net 2

   gross income

   gross sales

3. (of personal qualities, tastes, etc) conspicuously coarse or vulgar
4. obviously or exceptionally culpable or wrong; flagrant

   gross inefficiency

5. lacking in perception, sensitivity, or discrimination

   gross judgments

6. (esp of vegetation) dense; thick; luxuriant
7. obsolete.
   coarse in texture or quality
8. rare.
   rude; uneducated; ignorant

interjection

1. an exclamation indicating disgust

noun

1. gross a unit of quantity equal to 12 dozen
2. grosses
   1. the entire amount
   2. the great majority

verb

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

gross

1. Exclusive of deductions , prior to taxation , as in gross income . ( Compare net .) Total, aggregate, as in gross domestic product .

Derived Forms

• ˈgrossly, adverb
• ˈgrossness, noun

Other Words From

• gross·ly adverb
• gross·ness noun
• out·gross verb (used with object)
• o·ver·gross adjective
• o·ver·gross·ness noun
• un·gross adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gross¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French gros “large” (as noun, grosse “twelve dozen”), from Late Latin gross(us) “thick, coarse”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gross¹

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

Synonym Study

See flagrant.

Example Sentences

World GDP (including North Pole toyshop gross output) is $84.97 trillion.

From The Daily Beast

In its opening weekend the movie Heaven Is For Real (budget: $12 million) doubled its gross.

From The Daily Beast

The sex workers I spoke with rightly call it “vile,” “gross,” “terrifying,” and “exploitative.”

From The Daily Beast

The film was made with a reported $90 million but imploded with a $39 million domestic gross.

From The Daily Beast

Insult to injury, its $43 million gross was less than one-fifth of what Ted took in.

From The Daily Beast

Life is represented as struggling to free herself from the gross earthly forms that cling to her.

From Project Gutenberg

Does a friend come and add to the gross character of such a man the unknown trait of disgusting gluttony?

From Project Gutenberg

All these gross absurdities show, that the real spirit has nothing whatever to do with such absurd doctrines or productions.

From Project Gutenberg

When the hern or bitron flies low, the air is gross, and thickening into showers.

From Project Gutenberg

To abandon any part of the inheritance of primitive times would be gross heresy, a fatal dereliction of Christian duty.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abhorrent
• appalling
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• foul
• nasty
• nauseating
• noisome
• noxious
• objectionable
• odious
• offensive
• repellent
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• sickening
• unpleasant