toe

plural toes

1. countableuncountableEach of the five digits on the end of the human foot.

   An old traditional prescription for provoking erotic inclinations ran as follows, The toe of the foot of a man, anointed with oil, or honey, or the ashes of a weasel.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 234

   1. countableuncountableThe equivalent part in an animal.
   2. countableuncountableThe part of a shoe or sock covering the toe.

      Stumbling forward, Tal caught the toe of his boot on rock.

      2004, Patricia Lucas White, Edwina Parkhurst Spinster

2. countableuncountableSomething resembling a toe, especially at the bottom or extreme end of something.

   (hurling) the end of a hurley.

   4 more examples

   (golf) the extreme end of the head of a club.

   (cricket) the tip of the bat farthest from the handle

   (kayaking) the bow; the front of the kayak.

   (geology) a bulbous protrusion at the front of a lava flow or landslide.

3. uncountabledanceAn advanced form of ballet primarily performed by women, wearing pointe shoes.
4. countableuncountableautomotiveAn alignment of the wheels of a road vehicle, either positive (toe in), meaning the wheels are closer together at the front than at the back, or negative (toe out), the other way round.
5. countableuncountableengineeringThe journal, or pivot, at the lower end of a revolving shaft or spindle, which rests in a step.
6. countableuncountableengineeringA lateral projection at one end, or between the ends, of a piece, such as a rod or bolt, by means of which it is moved.
7. countableuncountableengineeringA projection from the periphery of a revolving piece, acting as a cam to lift another piece.
8. countableuncountablebusinessThe long side of an angled cut.
9. countableuncountableThe upper end of the bit (cutting edge) of an axehead; as opposed to the heel (lower end).
10. countableslanguncountableA cameltoe.
11. AustraliaNew ZealandslanguncountableSpeed, energy, vigor.

    to have a lot of toe

12. countablefigurativelyslanguncountableA person.

present singular third person toes · participle present toeing · participle past toed · past toed

1. transitiveTo furnish (a stocking, etc.) with a toe.
2. intransitivetransitiveTo touch, tap or kick with the toes.

   Just five minutes later the turnaround was complete when Arshavin toed the ball through to Bendtner, who slotted into the left corner from close range just before half-time.

   2010 December 29, Mark Vesty, “Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal”, in BBC

   1 more example

   "Here's ten shillings for you, but I'm going to toe your backside first!" said Manna. And the Dane let him kick away; his yellow teeth gleamed in a servile grin and then he clutched at the money.

   1927, Nordahl Grieg, The Ship Sails On, page 153

3. transitiveTo touch or reach with the toes; to come fully up to.

   to toe the mark

4. transitivebusinessTo fasten (a piece) by driving a fastener at a near-45-degree angle through the side (of the piece) into the piece to which it is to be fastened.

   The framers toed the irregular pieces into the sill.

5. transitivegolfTo mishit a golf ball with the toe of the club.

plural TOEs

1. abbreviationinitialismnatural sciencesInitialism of theory of everything.

   Synonyms: ToE

2. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of table of organization and equipment.
3. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of terms of employment.

   Synonyms: ToE

4. UKabbreviationinitialismmedicineInitialism of transoesophageal echocardiogram.

   Synonyms: TEE

plural Toes

1. A surname.

plural ToEs

1. abbreviationinitialismnatural sciencesInitialism of theory of everything.