What does "toe" mean?

1. (part of the foot) one of the five separate parts at the end of your foot. 2. (part of a shoe) the front part of a shoe or sock that covers your toes. 3. (wheel alignment) the angle of a car's wheels when seen from above. 4. (to touch with the foot) to touch, kick, or reach something using your toes.

toe

n. · v.

US //ˈtoʊ// UK //tˈəʊ// toe

1 part of the foot (n.)
A2 Elementary Anatomy

one of the five separate parts at the end of your foot.

any of the five terminal digits of the human foot.

Example

He accidentally stubbed his big toe on the corner of the wooden bed.

Example

The patient suffered a minor fracture in the proximal phalanx of the fifth toe after a heavy object fell on his foot.
- digit
2 part of a shoe (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the front part of a shoe or sock that covers your toes.

the portion of a footwear item or hosiery that encloses the toes.

Example

These boots are too tight in the toe, so I need a larger size.

Example

The steel-capped toe of the safety boot is designed to withstand significant impact in industrial environments.
- tip
- heel

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3 wheel alignment (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Engineering

the angle of a car's wheels when seen from above.

the inward or outward angle of the wheels of a vehicle relative to its longitudinal axis.

Example

The mechanic adjusted the toe of the front wheels to stop the car from pulling to the left.

Example

Excessive toe-in can lead to premature tyre wear and reduced fuel efficiency due to increased rolling resistance.
- alignment
4 to touch with the foot (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to touch, kick, or reach something using your toes.

to touch, tap, or propel an object using the toes; often used in sports or construction contexts.

Example

She managed to toe the ball away just before the other player reached it.

Example

The carpenter had to toe the nails into the joist at an angle to ensure a secure connection between the timber frames.
- kick
- tap

Origin

From Middle English to, from Old English tā, (Mercian) tāhe, from Proto-West Germanic taihā, from Proto-Germanic taihwǭ, from tīhwaną (“to show, announce”), from Proto-Indo-European deyḱ- (“to show”). See also Dutch teen, German Zehe, Danish tå, Swedish tå; also Old English teōn (“to accuse”), German zeihen (“to accuse, blame”); also Hittite [script needed] (tekkuššāi), Latin dīcere (“to say”), digitus (“finger”), Ancient Greek δείκνυμι (deíknumi, “to point out, show”), Sanskrit दिदेष्टि (dídeṣṭi), दिशति (diśáti).

Idioms4 entries