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

Species NWT has helped recover in Norfolk include crane, bittern, purple emperor butterfly and natterjack toad.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

At another point, a giant monitor behind the action featured Concho, the singer’s crested toad mascot.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2026

And then he doesn’t get the response he wants and runs out flailing, like a toad that finally got turned back into a man?

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025

A snapshot of wriggling toad tadpoles has earned Shane Gross the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2024

All thoughts of being turned into a toad, of missing out on the life she’d always hoped for, and of being a Spare felt small and insignificant right now.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Related Words

• frog