/təbɒ
gən/ (toboggans
) N‑COUNT
A
toboggan
is a light wooden board with a curved front, used for travelling down hills on snow or ice.
toc|ca|ta
/təkɑː
tə/ (toccatas
) N‑COUNT
[oft in names] A
toccata
is a fast piece of music for the piano, organ, or other keyboard instrument.
to|day
◆◆◆ /təde
I
/
1
ADV
You use
today
to refer to the day on which you are speaking or writing. □
How are you feeling today?
□
I wanted him to come with us today, but he couldn't.
● N‑UNCOUNT
Today
is also a noun. □
The Prime Minister remains the main story in today's newspapers.
2
ADV
[n ADV
] You can refer to the present period of history as
today
. □
He thinks pop music today is as exciting as it's ever been.
● N‑UNCOUNT
Today
is also a noun. □
Living in today's world we are exposed to pollution, traffic, and overcrowding.
USAGE
today
Don’t use ‘today’ in front of
morning
, afternoon
, or evening
. Instead, use this
. □
His plane left this morning
.
tod|dle
/tɒ
d
ə
l/ (toddles
, toddling
, toddled
) VERB
When a child
toddles
, it walks unsteadily with short quick steps. □ [V
]
…once your baby starts toddling.
□ [V
adv/prep]
She fell while toddling around.
tod|dler
/tɒ
dlə
r
/ (toddlers
) N‑COUNT
A
toddler
is a young child who has only just learned to walk or who still walks unsteadily with small, quick steps.
tod|dy
/tɒ
di/ (toddies
) N‑VAR
A
toddy
is a drink that is made by adding hot water and sugar to a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky, rum, or brandy. □
…a hot toddy.
to-do
/tə duː
/ N‑SING
When there is a
to-do
, people are very excited, confused, or angry about something. [INFORMAL
]
toe
/toʊ
/ (toes
, toeing
, toed
)
1
N‑COUNT
[usu pl] Your
toes
are the five movable parts at the end of each foot.
2
PHRASE
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.
3
PHRASE
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.
4
PHRASE
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.
5
PHRASE
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.
toe|cap
/toʊ
kæp/ (toecaps
) also
toe-cap
N‑COUNT
A
toecap
is a piece of leather or metal which is fitted over the end of a shoe or boot in order to protect or strengthen it.
toe
-curling
ADJ
If you describe something as
toe-curling
, you mean that it makes you feel very embarrassed. □
They showed the most toe-curling photos.
TOEFL
/toʊ
f
ə
l/ N‑PROPER
TOEFL
is an English language examination which is often taken by foreign students who want to study at universities in English-speaking countries.
TOEFL
is an abbreviation of 'Test of English as a Foreign Language'.
toe|hold
/toʊ
hoʊld/ (toeholds
) also
toe-hold
N‑COUNT
[usu sing] If you have a
toeholdin
a situation, you have managed to gain an uncertain position or a small amount of power in it, which you hope will give you the opportunity to get a better or more powerful position. □ [+ in
]
The company was anxious to get a toehold in the European market.
[Also + on
]
toe|nail
/toʊ
ne
I
l/ (toenails
) also
toe nail
N‑COUNT
[usu pl] Your
toenails
are the thin hard areas at the end of each of your toes.