toe
Any of the five separate parts at the end of the foot
the big toe
Oxford Essential Dictionary
toe
noun
1 one of the five parts at the end of your foot
2 the part of a shoe or sock that covers the end of your foot
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
toe
I. toe1 S3 /təʊ $ toʊ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ta]
1. one of the five movable parts at the end of your foot ⇨ finger:
He stubbed his toe (=hurt it by kicking it against something) on a rock.
big toe (=the largest of your toes)
the part of a shoe or sock that covers the front part of your foot
3. tread on sb’s toes British English, step on sb’s toes American English to offend someone, especially by becoming involved in something that they are responsible for
4. keep somebody on their toes to make sure that someone is ready for anything that might happen:
They do random checks to keep workers on their toes.
5. make sb’s toes curl to make someone feel very embarrassed or uncomfortable
6. touch your toes to bend downwards so that your hands touch your toes, without bending your knees
7. put/dip a toe in the water to try a little of something or try an activity for a short time to see if you like it
⇨ from head to toe at ↑head1(1), ⇨ from top to toe at ↑top1(22)
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
toe
toe [toe toes toed toeing] noun, verb [təʊ] [toʊ]
noun
1. one of the five small parts that stick out from the foot
• the big/little toe (= the largest/smallest toe)
• I stubbed my toe on the step.
• Can you touch your toes? (= by bending over while keeping your legs straight)
2. the part of a sock, shoe, etc. that covers the toes
• He kicked the earth with the toe of his boot.
3. -toed (in adjectives) having the type or number of toes mentioned
• open-toed sandals
• a three-toed sloth
see also pigeon-toed
more at dig your heels/toes in at dig v., dip a toe in/into sthdip a toe in/into the water at dip v., from head to foot/toe at head n., step on sb's toes at step v., from top to toe at top n., tread on sb's toes at tread v.
Word Origin:
Old English tā, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch tee and German Zeh, Zehe. Current senses of the verb date from the mid 19th cent.
Example Bank:
• He gave himself a good scrub from head to toe.
• He had some kind of fungus between his toes.
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.
• I dipped my toe in the river to test the temperature.
• I stood on the tips of my toes to look through the window.
• Ouch! That was my toe you just trod on.
• She stood on her toes to kiss him.
• She tapped her toes to the music.
• She trod on a lot of toes when she joined the company.
• So far they have only dipped their toe in the potentially vast computer market.
• The man's broad smile made her toes curl.
• The shoe pressed painfully against her big toe.
• The threat of inspections kept us all on our toes.
• Under his bare toes the floor felt gritty.
• the pain of a stubbed toe
Idioms: keep somebody on their toes ▪ make somebody's toes curl ▪ toe the line
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
toe / təʊ / / toʊ / noun [ C ]
A2 any of the five separate parts at the end of the foot:
your big toe (= your largest toe)
your little toe (= your smallest toe)
I stubbed (= knocked) my toe on the edge of the bed.
the part of a sock, shoe, or other foot covering that goes over the toes
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
toe
/toʊ/
(toes, toeing, toed)
1.
Your toes are the five movable parts at the end of each foot.
N-COUNT: usu pl
2.
If you dip your toes into something or dip your toes into the waters of something, you start doing that thing slowly and carefully, because you are not sure whether it will be successful or whether you will like it.
This may encourage gold traders to dip their toes back into the markets...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR n
3.
If you say that someone or something keeps you on your toes, you mean that they cause you to remain alert and ready for anything that might happen.
His fiery campaign rhetoric has kept opposition parties on their toes for months.
PHRASE: V inflects
4.
If you toe the line, you behave in the way that people in authority expect you to.
...attempts to persuade the rebel members to toe the line...
PHRASE: V inflects
5.
If you tread on someone’s toes, you offend them by criticizing the way that they do something or by interfering in their affairs. (INFORMAL)
I must be careful not to tread on their toes. My job is to challenge, but not threaten them.
PHRASE: V inflects
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1toe /ˈtoʊ/ noun, pl toes [count]
1 : one of the five separate parts at the end of your foot
• He felt the sand/grass between his toes.
• I accidentally stepped on her toe.
• I stubbed my toe on the table's leg.
- see picture at foot; compare finger; see also big toe
2 : the part of a shoe or sock that covers the front part of your foot
• My sock has a hole in the toe.
• boots with steel toes
• the toe of her boot
- see picture at foot
3 : something that is shaped like a toe
• the toe of the peninsula
dip/put/stick a toe in the water informal : to try an activity briefly to see if you like it
• I'm not sure I want to join, but I'd like to dip a toe in the water.
from top to toe
- see 1top
keep (someone) on their toes informal : to cause someone to be alert and prepared to deal with problems
• Taking care of three kids really keeps me on my toes.
• The boss made regular inspections in order to keep employees on their toes.
make your toes curl informal : to cause you to have a very strong and usually unpleasant feeling (such as a feeling of being embarrassed, annoyed, etc.)
• Just thinking about my old boyfriend makes my toes curl.
point your toes
- see 2point
step on someone's toes US or Brit tread on someone's toesinformal : to do something that upsets or offends someone
• You might step on the toes of some important people with this project.
• I don't want to step on anyone's toes.
