tons
[tˈʌnz] /ˈtən How to pronounce ton (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tons — noun
1. one thousand kilograms, used around the world as the standard measure for weighi
one thousand kilograms, used around the world as the standard measure for weighing heavy objects
The cargo ship carried over 15,000 tons of grain across the Atlantic Ocean.
number + tons + of + noun (measured quantity)
Minho's recycling plant processes about 800 tons of paper every month.
That container holds only two tons of rice, not the three we ordered.
The new bridge uses over 5,000 tons of steel and concrete in its support structure.
文法句型
number + tons + of + noun
2. a British measure for weight that works out at 1,016 kilograms (2,240 pounds), n
a British measure for weight that works out at 1,016 kilograms (2,240 pounds), now mostly replaced by the metric system
Coal shipments in Britain were traditionally recorded in long tons before the 1970s.
historical usage: traditionally recorded in [unit]
The old railway bridge was designed to support up to 300 long tons of freight.
Historic ships in British dockyards were always weighed in long tons for insurance records.
The old coal mine produced nearly 50,000 long tons each year before it closed in 1985.
文法句型
number + (long) tons + of + noun
用法筆記
This unit is now largely historical. Most official UK measurements use metric tons instead.
3. a North American measure for weight that works out at 907 kilograms (2,000 pound
a North American measure for weight that works out at 907 kilograms (2,000 pounds), used in the United States
American farmers often measure their corn harvests in short tons.
measured in [unit]; American usage
The construction crew ordered five short tons of gravel for the driveway project.
The American steel plant ships 20,000 short tons of metal to Detroit every quarter.
Each short ton of scrap metal costs about two hundred dollars at the local yard.
文法句型
number + (short) tons + of + noun
4. a very large amount or number of people or things; much more than usual
a very large amount or number of people or things; much more than usual
Kemi has done tons of work to prepare for her final exams next month.
tons of + uncountable noun
There were tons of people at the music festival in Brighton last weekend.
tons of + plural countable noun
The local charity received tons of donated clothes after the earthquake in Turkey.
Abigail has tons of energy — she rarely sits still for more than five minutes.
Tanvi spent tons of money redecorating her apartment in Taipei last year.
- loads
equally informal, interchangeable in most contexts
- heaps
slightly more British, same level of informality
- a huge amount
less informal, more suitable for writing
- hardly any
suggests a very small quantity
- next to nothing
informal, emphasises scarcity
文法句型
tons of + noun
tons + pronoun
have tons
常見錯誤
5. one hundred pounds sterling (£100), used as a unit of money in British slang
one hundred pounds sterling (£100), used as a unit of money in British slang
Shirin lent Takeshi three tons to help pay for his unexpected car repairs.
number + tons = number × £100
Adina bet Mathieu two tons that their team would win the championship final.
Caleb owed the bookmaker four tons after his horse-racing bets went badly wrong.
The vintage watch cost him eight tons, but Mathieu said it was a fair price.
文法句型
number + tons (meaning £100 each)
用法筆記
Always used with a number (e.g., 'two tons' = £200). This is a British slang term and is not used in American English.
6. a speed of one hundred miles per hour, used as a unit in informal British Englis
a speed of one hundred miles per hour, used as a unit in informal British English when talking about driving
Indra was doing 120 tons on the motorway when a police car pulled her over.
doing + number + tons = doing number × 100 mph
Paloma's new sports car can easily reach 150 tons on an empty stretch of road.
Mathieu claimed his old motorcycle could still hit 110 tons on a good day downhill.
The police radar caught Takeshi doing 90 tons on the A1 highway near Leeds.
文法句型
do/be doing + number + tons
用法筆記
Used with a number to indicate speed (e.g., 'doing 80 tons' = driving at 80 mph). The singular 'a ton' means exactly 100 mph.