noun
gross
A quantity of 144 items.
The store orders a gross of pencils, or twelve dozen.
Etymology
The quantity shortens the idea of a great dozen: a dozen dozens. The adjective meaning large thus became the name for 144 items.
More examples
- Each box holds a gross of buttons.
- We need two gross of screws for the project.
- The supplier sells these beads by the gross.
Forms
gross
Similar words
- dozen
- Counts twelve items rather than twelve dozen items.