Definition of "ton"

(historical) originally notionally equal to the contents of a tun, particularly

1. The short ton of 2000 pounds (about 907 kg), 20 hundredweights of 100 pounds avoirdupois each.  examples

2. The long ton of 2240 pounds (about 1016 kg), 20 hundredweights of 112 pounds avoirdupois each.  examples

3. The metric ton of 1000 kilograms, 10 quintals of 100 kilograms each.  examples

(historical) originally notionally equal to the contents of a tun, particularly

1. (US) 40 or (UK) 42 cubic feet (about 1.1 or 1.2 m³).  examples

2. The register ton of 100 cubic feet (about 2.83 m³).  examples

(figuratively) Any large, excessive, or overwhelming amount of anything.  examples

(HVAC) A unit of thermal power equal to 12,000 BTU/h (about 3.5 kW), approximating the idealized rate of cooling provided by uniform isothermal melting of 1 short ton of ice per day at 0°C.  examples

(slang, chiefly UK) Synonym of hundred, particularly

1. 100 pounds sterling.  examples

2. (darts, snooker, etc.) 100 points.  examples

3. (cricket) 100 runs.  examples

4. A speed of 100 mph.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Speed along the lane / Do a ton or a ton and twenty-five

     1970, Mungo Jerry (lyrics and music), “In The Summertime”, in In The Summertime

   • Neil: How fast can this thing go then, do you reckon?Simon: Well, it's the special edition, so I reckon it could probably top a ton.Neil: Bollocks!

     2008, Damon Beesley, Iain Morris, “Caravan Club”, in The Inbetweeners, Series 1, Episode 5, E4

   • The HSDT team, however, had some work to do, although by the end of 1972 the power car interior had been adjusted and BR had agreed to 'double-manning' with extra pay when speeds topped the ton.

     2021 October 6, Greg Morse, “A need for speed and the drive for 125”, in RAIL, number 941, page 50

Fashion, the current style, the vogue.  quotations  examples

Fashionable society; those in style.  quotations  examples

Synonym of tunny, particularly the common tunny or horse mackerel.  examples