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

toast

²

/ 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. intr to add vocal effects to a prerecorded track: a disc-jockey technique See also rap 1

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

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

Origin of toast²

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

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

I’ve gotten some slightly stale baguettes which made for great baked French toast.

From Salon

He becomes the toast of the Colosseum, leading the other gladiators to victory against rhinos, sharks and all manner of human and animal beast.

From Los Angeles Times

Never before has French toast with bacon and maple syrup tasted so good.

From BBC

“The best way to save ourselves is through music, always. A toast to music from the heart.”

From Los Angeles Times

The rejuvenated bread "has the texture of French toast and the flavor of grilled cheese."

From Salon

Related Words

• salute
• tribute