toad

[ tohd ]
See synonyms for toad on Thesaurus.com
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.: Compare frog1 (def. 1).

  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.: Compare frog1 (def. 2).

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

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

Origin of toad

1
before 1000; Middle English tode,Old English tāde, tādi(g)e

Other words from toad

  • toadish, toadlike, adjective
  • toad·ish·ness, noun
  • toadless, adjective

Words that may be confused with toad

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use toad in a sentence

  • Don Pajarito is telling me of los Alemanos all over the world;––souls they have not, and serpents and toads are their mothers!

    The Treasure Trail | Marah Ellis Ryan

British Dictionary definitions for toad

toad

/ (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: Related adjective: batrachian

  2. any of various similar amphibians of different families

  1. a loathsome person

Origin of toad

1
Old English tādige, of unknown origin; see tadpole

Derived forms of toad

  • toadish or toadlike, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012