Adjacent Words

Dozen definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DOZEN, a. Duzn. [G.] Twelve in number, applied to things of the same kind, but rarely or never to that number in the abstract. We say, a dozen men; a dozen pair of gloves. It is a word much used in common discourse and in light compositions; rarely in the grave or elevated style.
DOZEN, n. The number twelve of things of a like kind; as a dozen of eggs; twelve dozen of gloves; a dozen of wine.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: denoting a quantity consisting of 12 items or units [syn: twelve, 12, xii, dozen] n
1: the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one [syn: twelve, 12, XII, dozen]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural dozens or dozen) Etymology: Middle English dozeine, from Anglo-French duzeine, dozeyne, from duze twelve, from Latin duodecim, from duo two + decem ten — more at two, ten Date: 13th century 1. a group of 12 2. an indefinitely large number <dozens of times> 3. plural but singular in construction a ritualized word game that consists of exchanging insults usually about the members of the opponent's family — used with the • dozen adjective • dozenth adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 (prec. by a or a number) (pl. dozen) twelve, regarded collectively (a dozen eggs; two dozen packets; ordered three dozen). 2 a set or group of twelve (packed in dozens). 3 colloq. about twelve, a fairly large indefinite number. 4 (in pl.; usu. foll. by of) colloq. very many (made dozens of mistakes). 5 (the dozens) a Black American game or ritualized exchange of verbal insults. Phrases and idioms: by the dozen in large quantities. talk nineteen to the dozen Brit. talk incessantly. Derivatives: dozenth adj. & n. Etymology: ME f. OF dozeine, ult. f. L duodecim twelve

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Dozen Doz"en, n.; pl. Dozen (before another noun), Dozens. [OE. doseine, dosein, OF. doseine, F. douzaine, fr. douze twelve, fr. L. duodecim; duo two + decem ten. See Two, Ten, and cf. Duodecimal.] 1. A collection of twelve objects; a tale or set of twelve; with or without of before the substantive which follows. ``Some six or seven dozen of Scots.'' ``A dozen of shirts to your back.'' ``A dozen sons.'' ``Half a dozen friends.'' --Shak. 2. An indefinite small number. --Milton. A baker's dozen, thirteen; -- called also a long dozen.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Dozen Doz"en, n.; pl. Dozen (before another noun), Dozens. [OE. doseine, dosein, OF. doseine, F. douzaine, fr. douze twelve, fr. L. duodecim; duo two + decem ten. See Two, Ten, and cf. Duodecimal.] 1. A collection of twelve objects; a tale or set of twelve; with or without of before the substantive which follows. ``Some six or seven dozen of Scots.'' ``A dozen of shirts to your back.'' ``A dozen sons.'' ``Half a dozen friends.'' --Shak. 2. An indefinite small number. --Milton. A baker's dozen, thirteen; -- called also a long dozen.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(dozens) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. Note: The plural form is 'dozen' after a number, or after a word or expression referring to a number, such as 'several' or 'a few'. 1. If you have a dozen things, you have twelve of them. You will be able to take ten dozen bottles free of duty through customs... His chicken eggs sell for $22 a dozen. NUM: usu a/num NUM 2. You can refer to a group of approximately twelve things or people as a dozen. You can refer to a group of approximately six things or people as half a dozen. In half a dozen words, he had explained the bond that linked them... The riot left four people dead and several dozen injured. NUM: usu a/num NUM 3. If you refer to dozens of things or people, you are emphasizing that there are very many of them. ...a storm which destroyed dozens of homes and buildings. QUANT: QUANT of pl-n [emphasis] • You can also use dozens as a pronoun. Just as revealing are Mr Johnson's portraits, of which there are dozens. PRON

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Twelve.

Moby Thesaurus

L, Sexagesima, boxcar, boxcars, duodecimo, eighty, eleven, fifteen, fifty, five and twenty, fortnight, forty, four and twenty, fourscore, fourscore and ten, fourteen, half a hundred, long dozen, ninety, nonagenarian, octogenarian, quindecennial, quindecim, quindecima, quindene, score, septuagenarian, seventy, sexagenarian, sexagenary, sexagesimo-quarto, sixteen, sixteenmo, sixty, sixty-four, sixty-fourmo, teens, thirteen, thirty-two, thirty-twomo, threescore, threescore and ten, twelve, twelvemo, twenty, twenty-five, twenty-four, twenty-fourmo, two dozen, two weeks, twoscore