toad
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a small animal similar to a frog that has dry, bumpy skin and lives mostly on land.
n.a tailless amphibian of the order Anura, typically characterized by shorter hind legs and drier, more warty skin than a frog.
Simple“A large toad sat perfectly still in the garden near the rocks.”
In context“Unlike the smooth-skinned frogs found in the pond, the common toad prefers damp terrestrial habitats where its camouflaged skin provides protection from predators.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who is very mean, dishonest, or unpleasant.
n.a contemptible, repulsive, or highly unpleasant person. Used as a derogatory label.
Simple“Nobody liked the manager because he was a nasty little toad.”
In context“The antagonist was portrayed as a grovelling toad, willing to betray his closest allies to secure a minor promotion within the company.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to permanently delete a user's account from an online game or system.
v.to expel a user permanently from a MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) or similar legacy online system, resulting in the deletion of their account.
Simple“The player was toaded after the admins found out he was cheating.”
In context“In the early days of online gaming, being toaded was the ultimate punishment for violating the community's social contract.”
UsageThe verb is transitive and usually appears in the passive voice.
From Middle English tode, toode, tadde, tade, from Old English *tāde, a shortened variant of Old English tādie, tādiġe (“toad”). Cognate with Scots tade, taid, taed, ted (“toad”). Compare also Danish tudse (“toad”), possibly originally from the same prehistoric root; also Swedish tåssa, tossa (“toad”), Old English tāxe (“toad”), Old English tosca (“toad”) by contrast.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.