# tossing

/ˈtɔsɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈɒsɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. throwing lightly

verb · CEFR B1

throwing something gently or carelessly with your hand.

For teachers: the act of throwing an object with a light, casual, or careless motion.

- He spent the afternoon tossing a ball against the garage door.
- The children were tossing breadcrumbs to the ducks, oblivious to the signs forbidding visitors from feeding the wildlife.

### 2. moving restlessly

verb · CEFR B2

moving your body from side to side, especially when you cannot sleep.

For teachers: moving restlessly or turbulently, particularly in the context of sleep or rough water.

- After tossing and turning all night, she felt exhausted the next morning.
- The small fishing boat was tossing violently in the storm, making it nearly impossible for the crew to stand on deck.

### 3. washing ores

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way of cleaning rocks from a mine by shaking them in water.

For teachers: the process of washing ores by violent agitation in water to separate lighter earthy particles from heavier minerals.

- The miners used tossing to separate the valuable tin from the dirt.
- Historical records indicate that tossing was a primary method for refining low-grade copper ore before more advanced chemical processes were developed.

Usage: Often used as a gerund to describe the industrial process.

### 4. vulgar insult

adjective · CEFR C2 · British English · Vulgar · Slang

a very rude word used to show you hate someone or something.

For teachers: a vulgar intensifier or disparaging epithet used to express extreme contempt.

- He told his boss he was tired of this tossing job and walked out.
- The argument escalated quickly, with one man calling the other a tossing idiot before the police arrived to intervene.

Teaching tip: This is highly offensive in British English; learners should recognize it but avoid using it in any social or professional setting.

## Examples

- She is tossing the ball to her dog.
- After tossing the salad with olive oil and lemon, he served it to the guests.
- The athlete spent the afternoon tossing the javelin across the field, focusing more on his form and release than on achieving maximum distance.

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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.