dozen
1 Americannoun
plural
dozens,plural
dozen-
a group of 12.
-
Slang. the dozens, a ritualized game typically engaged in by two persons each of whom attempts to outdo the other in insults directed against members of the other's family (usually used in the phraseplay the dozens ).
adjective
verb (used with object)
determiner
noun
-
in large quantities
-
See baker's dozen
-
to talk without stopping
Other Word Forms
- dozenth adjective
Etymology
Origin of dozen1
1250–1300; Middle English dozeine < Old French do ( u ) zaine, equivalent to do ( u ) ze (< Latin duodecim ) + -aine (< Latin -āna ) -an
Origin of dozen2
1325–75; Middle English (Scots); doze 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ukraine also shows how hard it is to defend against multiple complex attacks involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles.
From BBC
And in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates' capital, golfers enjoying a quiet round were stunned to see dozens of projectiles flying overhead.
From Barron's
"Most large atlases like this require large consortia with dozens of laboratories but our method is far more efficient than other approaches."
From Science Daily
A vast and fragmented pile of immigration statistics from dozens of countries, stitched together by The Wall Street Journal, depicts a historic pattern.
At least half a dozen universities in cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Urmia said courses would be held remotely for the next few weeks.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
