toe
Pluraltoes
Pluraltoes
- 1One of the small parts at the end of your foot, or at the end of an animal's foot.
Like fingers, but on your foot.
She stubbed her toe on the bed frame in the dark.
My toes felt cold after walking through the snow.
UsageSay big toe and little toe. You stub your toe when you hit it.
- 2The front part of a shoe or sock that wraps around your toes.
Like the very tip of a glove, but made for your foot.
There was a hole in the toe of his sock.
She painted the toes of her sneakers bright white.
- 3A part at the bottom or far end of something, shaped a bit like a foot's toe.
Like the bottom tip of something, where it meets the ground.
The hikers rested at the toe of the hill before the climb.
Loose rocks had gathered at the toe of the slope.
UsageSay the toe of a hill or slope.
Note
- 4To touch, push, or kick something with your toes, or to stand with your toes right at a line.
Like nudging something with the tip of your foot.
I toe the door open when both my hands are full.
She toed nervously at the loose stone by the gate.
UsageSay toe the line (not
incorrect: tow the line): stand at a line, or follow the rules.Note
Less common meanings
- 5A hard kind of ballet danced on the very tips of the feet in special shoes.
Like dancing while balanced on the very tips of your feet.
She took her first toe class when she was twelve.
She switched from tap to toe last year.
UsageSay dance on toe, or toe shoes.
Similarpointe
Note
- 6The way a vehicle's wheels point slightly inward or outward at the front.
Like standing with your feet turned slightly in or slightly out.
The mechanic checked the toe on all four wheels.
Too much toe can wear down your tires very fast.
Note
- 7The shape of a woman's private area showing through tight pants or shorts.
Very tight leggings can cause camel toe.
She bought thicker yoga pants to avoid camel toe.
Note
- 8To hit a golf ball badly with the outer end of the club face.
Like hitting a ball with the corner of a bat instead of the middle.
On the golf course, he tends to toe his drive into the trees.
She toed her drive and lost it in the rough.
Note
- 9The top corner of an axe blade's cutting edge, opposite the bottom corner.
Like the front tip of a knife blade, the part that bites in first.
He sharpened the toe of the axe to cut through knots.
The toe of the axe blade chipped when it hit a nail.
Note
- 10
- 11To join two pieces by driving a nail or screw at a slanted angle through the side of one into the other.
- 12The longer edge made when something is cut at a slant.
- 13To add a toe to a stocking or sock.
- 14A small arm sticking out from the side of a rod or bolt, used to move the part.
- 15A small bump on the edge of a spinning part that pushes or lifts another part as it turns.
- 16The bottom pivot of a spinning shaft, which sits in a small support called a step.
- 17A person, talked about in a casual or joking way.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Old English tā, coming from older Germanic words. It goes back to an ancient root meaning "to show" or "to point out."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Toe comes from Old English tā and earlier Germanic forms. en.wikipedia.org
- Its Germanic ancestor derives from an Indo-European root meaning 'to show' or 'to point out'. en.wiktionary.org