# gross

/ˈɡɹoʊs/ (US) · /ɡɹˈəʊs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gross
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. disgusting

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

very unpleasant to look at, smell, or think about.

For teachers: causing strong dislike or disgust. Frequently used in informal speech to react to something physically repulsive.

- Don't put your dirty feet on the dinner table, that's gross.
- The children made a series of gross faces when they were told that the local delicacy consisted of fermented fish and insects.

### 2. total amount

adjective · CEFR B2

the total amount of something before anything, like tax, is taken away.

For teachers: representing the total amount of something before any deductions, such as taxes or expenses, have been subtracted.

- Her gross salary is fifty thousand dollars, but she takes home much less.
- The company reported a significant increase in gross profit, though rising operational costs meant the net income remained relatively flat.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 3. very obvious and bad

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

extremely bad and easy to see, especially regarding a mistake or bad behavior.

For teachers: conspicuously and outrageously bad or offensive; used to describe errors, negligence, or violations of standards.

- The company was sued for gross negligence after the accident at the factory.
- The report highlighted a gross violation of safety protocols that had been ignored by the management for several years.

### 4. large scale

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

visible to the naked eye; not needing a microscope to see.

For teachers: relating to the large-scale structure or appearance of something, as opposed to its microscopic details.

- The doctor examined the gross anatomy of the organ before taking a sample.
- While the gross features of the landscape are visible from the air, the unique mineral compositions require laboratory analysis.

### 5. a group of 144

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a group of 144 things (twelve dozen).

For teachers: a unit of quantity equal to twelve dozen or 144 items.

- The school ordered five gross of pencils for the new term.
- The wholesaler delivered ten gross of glass vials, which should be sufficient to meet the laboratory's requirements for the next quarter.

Usage: The plural form is often just 'gross' when used after a number.

### 6. to earn in total

verb · CEFR B2

to earn a total amount of money before costs are paid.

For teachers: to earn a particular amount of money as total profit or income before tax and other costs are deducted.

- The new superhero movie grossed over one hundred million dollars in its first weekend.
- Despite the mixed critical reception, the summer blockbuster is expected to gross enough internationally to justify a sequel.

## Examples

- That old food in the fridge smells gross.
- The children thought the slimy worms were gross, but the teacher explained how they help the garden grow.
- While the film was praised for its artistic direction, many critics found the graphic violence to be gratuitously gross and unnecessary for the plot.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.