toad

American  

[tohd] / toʊd /

noun

1. any of various tailless amphibians that are close relatives of the frogs in the order Anura and that typically have dry, warty skin and are terrestrial or semiterrestrial in habit.

2. Also called true toad.  a toad of the widespread and chiefly terrestrial family Bufonidae, having relatively short hind legs used in hopping and often having at the shoulders swellings containing glands that, along with the skin, secrete an irritating fluid in defense.

3. any of various toadlike animals, as certain lizards.

4. a person or thing as an object of disgust or aversion.

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toad British  

/ təʊd /

noun

1. any anuran amphibian of the class Bufonidae, such as Bufo bufo ( common toad ) of Europe. They are similar to frogs but are more terrestrial, having a drier warty skin

2. any of various similar amphibians of different families

3. a loathsome person

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Other Word Forms

• toadish
  adjective
• toadishness
  noun
• toadless
  adjective
• toadlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of toad

before 1000; Middle English tode, Old English tāde, tādi ( g ) e

Explanation

A toad is an amphibian with dry, bumpy skin and no tail. A common myth says that toads will give you warts, but it's not true. Toads are actually a type of frog. They tend to be short and wide, and to have larger eyeballs than typical frogs. Toads also don't jump as high as other frogs, and they don't need to live near water. The typically bumpy skin of toads is what led them to be associated with warts, and this perceived homeliness has made toad a derogatory term: "You're nothing but a horrible old toad!"

Example Sentences

Here, siblings Mario and Luigi team with Princess Peach and Toad on an interstellar adventure and face off against the nefarious fire-breathing Bowser and his son.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Emotional volatility was touched on in “Frog and Toad: Live in Concert!” from Last Call Theatre, one of the more prolific companies on the immersive scene.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2025

She formed the Cane Toad Coalition and worked with a broad group of stakeholders to trial the large-scale cane toad intervention.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2024

A Toad Lake Township, Minnesota, man died after he fell through the frozen surface of a local lake while ice fishing.

From Washington Times • Dec. 23, 2023

“I’m not,” the Toad answered, his face quivering as if he were about to cry.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner

Related Words

• frog