toast

¹

[ tohst ]

noun

1. sliced bread that has been browned by dry heat.

verb (used with object)

1. to brown, as bread or cheese, by exposure to heat.
2. to heat or warm thoroughly at a fire:

   She toasted her feet at the fireplace.

verb (used without object)

1. to become toasted.

toast

²

[ tohst ]

noun

1. a salutation or a few words of congratulation, good wishes, appreciation, remembrance, etc., uttered immediately before drinking to a person, event, etc.
2. a person, event, sentiment, or the like, in honor of whom another or others raise their glasses in salutation and then drink.
3. an act or instance of thus drinking:

   They drank a toast to the queen.

4. a call on another or others to drink to some person or thing.
5. a person who is celebrated as with the spirited homage of a toast:

   She was the toast of five continents.

verb (used with object)

1. to drink to the health of or in honor of; propose a toast to or in honor of.
2. to propose as a toast.

verb (used without object)

1. to propose or drink a toast.

toast

¹

/ təʊst /

noun

1. a tribute or proposal of health, success, etc, given to a person or thing by a company of people and marked by raising glasses and drinking together
2. a person or thing honoured by such a tribute or proposal
3. (esp formerly) an attractive woman to whom such tributes are frequently made

   she was the toast of the town

verb

1. to propose or drink a toast to (a person or thing)
2. See rap
   intr to add vocal effects to a prerecorded track: a disc-jockey technique See also rap 1

toast

²

/ təʊst /

noun

1. sliced bread browned by exposure to heat, usually under a grill, over a fire, or in a toaster
2. be toast informal.
   be toast to face certain destruction or defeat

verb

1. tr to brown under a grill or over a fire

   to toast cheese

2. to warm or be warmed in a similar manner

   to toast one's hands by the fire

Derived Forms

• ˈtoaster, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of toast¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb tosten, from Old French toster, from Vulgar Latin tostāre (unattested), derivative of Latin tostus (from unattested torstos ), past participle of torrēre “to parch, roast”, akin to Gothic thaursus, Old Norse thurr “dry”; noun derivative of the verb; torrid; thirst ( def )

Origin of toast²

First recorded in 1690–1700; figurative use of toast ¹ (noun); the name of a lady so honored was said to give flavor to the drink comparable to that given by spiced toast

Word History and Origins

Origin of toast¹

C17 (in the sense: a lady to whom the company is asked to drink): from toast ¹,from the idea that the name of the lady would flavour the drink like a piece of spiced toast

Origin of toast²

C14: from Old French toster, from Latin tōstus parched, baked from torrēre to dry with heat; see thirst , torrid

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be toast, Slang. to be doomed, ruined, or in trouble:

   If you're late to work again, you're toast!

More idioms and phrases containing toast

see warm as toast .

Example Sentences

For Paul, the thrill of breakfast with the Reverend, may be giving way to the taste of burnt toast.

From The Daily Beast

Just three years ago, Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge were the toast of the liberal establishment.

From The Daily Beast

Much like the Taj Mahal, Revel opened in classically gaudy Atlantic City style in April 2012—with a sunrise Champagne toast.

From The Daily Beast

His cannabis-infused menus range from truffle tuna casserole and coconut chicken to French toast and omelets.

From The Daily Beast

Over a glass (or more) of port, we toast to the Queen…and Dame Judi Dench.

From The Daily Beast

He silenced her with a gesture, and, leaving a piece of toast half-eaten on his plate, he got up and went into his study.

From Project Gutenberg

Could we men of to-day have done it justice and sat it and the toast list out, I wonder.

From Project Gutenberg

The menu was long, elaborate and imposing; equalled only by the toast list, which contained no less than sixteen separate toasts.

From Project Gutenberg

But being observed, one evening, to omit it, a gentleman reminded him that he had forgotten to toast his favorite lady.

From Project Gutenberg

Coals!what would he do with coals?Toast his cheese with em, and then come back for more.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• salute
• tribute