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Definition of gross adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

gross

adjective
 
 
/ɡrəʊs/
 
/ɡrəʊs/
(comparative grosser, superlative grossest)
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  1.  
    [only before noun] being the total amount of something before anything is taken away
    • gross weight (= including the container or wrapping)
    • gross income/wage (= before taxes, etc. are taken away)
    • Investments showed a gross profit of 26 per cent.
    • The family have three children and a gross income of £50 000.
    compare net
  2.  
    [only before noun] (formal or law) (of a crime, etc.) very obvious and unacceptable
    • gross negligence/misconduct
    • a gross violation of human rights
  3.  
    (informal) very unpleasant synonym disgusting
    • ‘He ate it with mustard.’ ‘Oh, gross!’
    Synonyms disgustingdisgustingfoul ▪ revolting ▪ repulsive ▪ offensive ▪ grossThese words all describe something, especially a smell, taste or habit, that is extremely unpleasant and often makes you feel slightly ill.disgusting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill:
    • What a disgusting smell!
    foul dirty, and tasting or smelling bad:
    • She could smell his foul breath.
    revolting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill:
    • The stew looked revolting.
     disgusting or revolting?Both of these words are used to describe things that smell and taste unpleasant, unpleasant personal habits and people who have them. There is no real difference in meaning, but disgusting is more frequent, especially in spoken English.repulsive (rather formal) extremely unpleasant in a way that offends you or makes you feel slightly ill. Repulsive usually describes people, their behaviour or habits, which you may find offensive for physical or moral reasons.offensive (formal) (especially of smells) extremely unpleasant.gross (informal) (of a smell, taste or personal habit) extremely unpleasant.Patterns
    • disgusting/​repulsive/​offensive to somebody
    • to find somebody/​something disgusting/​revolting/​repulsive/​offensive
    • to smell/​taste disgusting/​foul/​gross
    • a(n) disgusting/​foul/​revolting/​offensive/​gross smell
    • a disgusting/​revolting/​gross habit
    • disgusting/​offensive/​gross behaviour
    • a disgusting/​revolting/​repulsive man/​woman/​person
  4. very rude synonym crude
    • gross behaviour
  5. (offensive) used to describe somebody/something that you think is very fat and ugly
    6. Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘thick, massive, bulky’): from Old French gros, grosse ‘large’, from late Latin grossus.
See gross in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee gross in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: gross

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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