# toad

/ˈtoʊd/ (US) · /tˈəʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/toad
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. amphibian

noun · CEFR A2

a small animal similar to a frog that has dry, bumpy skin and lives mostly on land.

For teachers: a tailless amphibian of the order Anura, typically characterized by shorter hind legs and drier, more warty skin than a frog.

- A large toad sat perfectly still in the garden near the rocks.
- Unlike the smooth-skinned frogs found in the pond, the common toad prefers damp terrestrial habitats where its camouflaged skin provides protection from predators.

### 2. unpleasant person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who is very mean, dishonest, or unpleasant.

For teachers: a contemptible, repulsive, or highly unpleasant person. Used as a derogatory label.

- Nobody liked the manager because he was a nasty little toad.
- The antagonist was portrayed as a grovelling toad, willing to betray his closest allies to secure a minor promotion within the company.

### 3. to ban a user

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · Technical

to permanently delete a user's account from an online game or system.

For teachers: to expel a user permanently from a MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) or similar legacy online system, resulting in the deletion of their account.

- The player was toaded after the admins found out he was cheating.
- In the early days of online gaming, being toaded was the ultimate punishment for violating the community's social contract.

Usage: The verb is transitive and usually appears in the passive voice.

## Examples

- A large toad sat quietly under the garden leaves.
- After the heavy rain, several toads emerged from the soil to hunt for insects in the damp grass.
- While many amphibians require constant proximity to water, the common toad is remarkably resilient, often migrating long distances across dry land to reach its ancestral breeding ponds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.