ton

Universal Words noun 1 [C] (plural tons or ton) a unit for measuring weight, in Britain 2240 pounds (long ton) and in the US 2000 pounds (short ton): (informal) What have you got in this bag? It weighs a ton! compareTONNE 2 [C] a unit for measuring the size of a ship. 1 ton is equal to 100 CUBIC feet. 3 (tons) [pl.] (informal) a lot: They've got tons of money. * I've still got tons to do. 4 (a / the ton) (BrE, informal) 100, especially when connected with a speed of 100 miles per hour: He was caught doing a ton. IDIOMS like a ton of bricks (informal) very heavily; very severely: Disappointment hit her like a ton of bricks. * They came down on him like a ton of bricks (= criticized him very severely).