Other forms: tons
The ton is a unit of measurement. In North America, a ton is 2,000 pounds. Elephants weigh several tons — and blue whales can weigh up to 200 tons!
Although a ton is a specific way to measure weight, the word is often used more generally to mean "a whole bunch" or "a lot." So if your friend promises that her dad made a ton of cupcakes, don't be disappointed when you get to her house and discover only a few dozen. The original ton, spelled tun, was "enough to fill a tun (or cask) of wine."