ton

ton [ tʌn ] noun count **

1. ) AMERICAN a unit for measuring weight, containing 2,000 POUNDS and equal to 907 kilograms:

The horse could pull up to 50 tons.

Transporting the coal costs $40 per ton.

two-ton/80-ton etc. (=weighing two tons/80 tons etc.): a 40-ton truck

a ) BRITISH a unit for measuring weight, containing 2,240 POUNDS and equal to 1,016 kilograms

─ compare METRIC TON

2. ) INFORMAL a very large number or amount:

ton of: She put on about a ton of make-up.

tons of (=a lot of): I've got tons of things to do.

weigh a ton (=be extremely heavy): That bag of yours weighs a ton!

come down on someone like a ton of bricks INFORMAL

to criticize or punish someone very severely