gros

Gros is a French term with multiple related meanings and uses. As an adjective, it means large, big, or thick. The masculine form is gros and the feminine form is grosse; the word typically precedes the noun to emphasize size (for example, un gros chien, une grosse voiture), though it can follow the noun in some constructions for nuance. Etymologically, gros derives from Latin grossus through Old French.

In common expressions, gros appears in set phrases such as en gros, meaning roughly, in broad terms, or in bulk. Gros plan denotes a close-up shot in photography and cinema. In culinary and material contexts, gros is found in phrases like gros sel for coarse salt and gros morceaux for large pieces.

As a noun, gros can be used informally to refer to a person who is large or influential, such as un gros, or in phrases like un gros poisson to mean a big shot. The usage is primarily colloquial and depends on context and tone.

Gros is also a surname. It is widespread in French-speaking regions and can reflect geographic, occupational, or descriptive origins. As a surname, it is encountered in many Francophone communities and may appear with varied diacritics in different languages.

In summary, gros functions mainly as a versatile French descriptor of size, with additional roles as a noun, a common surname, and a component of fixed expressions that extend its meaning beyond mere physical dimensions.