toast
tohst
Toast (noun) means Sliced bread browned by heat. Example: “Could I have two slices of toast with my eggs, please?”
noun
1
Sliced bread browned by heat.
"Could I have two slices of toast with my eggs, please?"
"The smell of burnt toast filled the kitchen this morning."
"She had toast and jam for breakfast."
2
A short spoken tribute or well-wish made while raising a drink.
"Everyone raised a glass for the toast to the happy couple."
"He proposed a toast to absent friends before dinner began."
"The best man gave a toast to the newlyweds."
3
Informal: someone or something doomed or finished.
"If the boss sees this mess, we are toast."
"Our chances of winning are toast now that our best player is injured."
"If he's late again, he's toast."
verb
1
To brown bread by heat.
"I like to toast a couple of crumpets under the grill."
"Can you toast these slices while I make the tea?"
"Toast the bread until golden."
2
To honor someone by raising a drink in their name.
"The guests stood to toast the bride and groom."
"We toasted her promotion with a glass of sparkling juice."
"They toasted the retiring captain with champagne."
How to use toast
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBrowned bread for breakfast, a spoken tribute over drinks, or slang for someone in serious trouble.
Common pairings
propose a toast
raise a toast
butter the toast
he's toast
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Word forms
- Plural
- toasts
- Third person singular
- toasts
- Past tense
- toasted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Could I have two slices of _____ with my eggs, please?
Etymology
From Middle English tost — the "salute with a drink" sense grew from an old custom of flavoring a drink with a piece of spiced toast, later applied instead to the person being honored.
Related words
Rhymes for toast
See all rhymes for toast →Frequently asked questions
What does “toast” mean?
The word “toast” means sliced bread browned by heat. In plain terms, browned bread for breakfast, a spoken tribute over drinks, or slang for someone in serious trouble.
How do you pronounce “toast”?
“Toast” is pronounced tohst (/toʊst/ in IPA).
How do you use “toast” in a sentence?
Here is “toast” used in a sentence: “She had toast and jam for breakfast.”
What part of speech is “toast”?
Depending on how it is used, “toast” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “toast” come from?
The word “toast” comes from Middle English. From Middle English tost — the "salute with a drink" sense grew from an old custom of flavoring a drink with a piece of spiced toast, later applied instead to the person being honored.
Is “toast” a common word?
“Toast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “toast” have?
“Toast” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sliced bread browned by heat.
What is the difference between 'toast' and 'grill'?
To toast means specifically to brown bread, or similar items, by direct heat until crisp. To grill is broader, cooking many foods under or over strong heat, and in British usage it covers what Americans call broiling. You toast bread but grill meat, cheese, or vegetables.
