gallon

Everyday

1. A unit for measuring liquids. A UK (imperial) gallon is about 4.55 litres; a US gallon is about 3.79 litres. tree →
2. (informal, plural) A very large amount, as in «gallons of tea». tree →

In the lessons

A maths and measurement word: in imperial units, 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints. The USA still uses gallons for milk and petrol (gas); the UK sells fuel in litres but people still talk of «miles per gallon». In everyday talk «gallons» is an exaggeration for lots of liquid.

Examples

• We bought a gallon of milk at the store. tree →
• One gallon is 8 pints. tree →
• The car does 40 miles per gallon. tree →
• A bath holds about 20 gallons of water. tree →
• If 1 gallon is 8 pints, then 3 gallons is 24 pints. tree →
• He drank gallons of lemonade at the party. tree →
• The fish tank holds ten gallons. tree →
• There were about a hundred gallons of oil in this caldron, and the fire was burning beneath it. tree →

Note

Countable. Abbreviation: gal. Trap in maths problems: UK and US gallons are different sizes (UK 4.546 L, US 3.785 L); use the one the question gives. Conversions: 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints; in the US, 1 gallon = 128 fluid ounces.