onelessthanagross
nounUK /wʌn lɛs ðæn ə ɡroʊs/
US /wʌn lɛs ðæn ə ɡroʊs/
One less than a gross means 143, because a gross is 144.
The box held one less than a gross of pencils, so there were 143 in all.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A playful way to say a number just under a big round amount.
He joked that his collection was one less than a gross.
3. A counting phrase used when you have almost a full set of 144.
We counted one less than a gross of stickers on the sheet.
4. A math expression meaning 144 minus 1.
In class we wrote one less than a gross as 144 - 1 = 143.