Dozen Meaning
/ˈdʌzən/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA set of twelve.
nounA large, unspecified number of, comfortably estimated in small multiples of twelve, thus generally implied to be significantly more than ten or twelve, but less than perhaps one or two hundred; many.
Sentence Examples
Each chapter in the textbook is followed by about a dozen comprehension questions.
We bought the goods at $3 a dozen.
There are no fewer than a dozen bedrooms in this mansion.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She carefully counted out a ____ of eggs, making sure there were exactly twelve.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Each chapter in the textbook is followed by about a ____ comprehension questions.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English dozen, dozein, doseyne, from Old French dozaine (“a group of twelve”) (Modern French douzaine), from doze (“twelve”) + -aine (“-ish”), from Latin duodecim (“twelve”) (from duo (“two”) + decem (“ten”)) + -ana (“-ish”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Almost three dozen US service members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries after the Iranian missile attack earlier this month, the Pentagon said Friday."
— 2020 January 26, Leah Asmelash, “Why traumatic brain injuries can be dangerous”, in CNN:
"Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade."
— 2012 March 26, Lee A. Groat, “Gemstones”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 14 Jun 2012, page 128:
"Jessalyn, known to her family as Jessa, was one of the dozens who were hit."
— 2022 October 26, Christina Zdanowicz, Claudia Dominguez, Lauren M. Johnson and Sara Smart, “The Waukesha victims included an 8-year-old boy, a loving grandmother and a woman excited to make her debut in the Dancing Grannies”, in CNN:
"The dozen as a measure for iron ore remained almost completely constant at 12 cwts. during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries."
— 1957, H.R. Schubert, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry, page 139:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She carefully counted out a ____ of eggs, making sure there were exactly twelve.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Each chapter in the textbook is followed by about a ____ comprehension questions.