toast

¹ American  

[tohst] / toʊst /

noun

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

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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.

idioms

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

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

toast ² American  

[tohst] / toʊst /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

toast ² British  

/ təʊst /

noun

1. sliced bread browned by exposure to heat, usually under a grill, over a fire, or in a toaster

2. informal to face certain destruction or defeat

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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 More Idioms  

1. see warm as toast.

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Other Word Forms

• toaster
  noun

Etymology

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; see also torrid; see origin at 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

Explanation

What do you get when you heat a piece of bread long enough for it to become golden-brown on both sides? Congratulations, you've made a piece of toast! To make toast, you simply toast bread, or heat it on a grill, in a toaster, or in an oven. People put all kinds of things on toast, from butter to jam to baked beans. Making or giving a toast is another thing all together — this kind of toast is a brief speech given while raising glasses and drinking together: "A toast to the birthday girl!" And if you are so highly regarded in a particular area that you're almost famous, you're "the toast of the town."

Example Sentences

The King later emphasised his earlier support of Nato during his toast at the state dinner.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Just before his dinner toast, Charles quoted a Shakespearean plea for peace -- but ended with a winking reference.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

The highest compliment, though, was paid by teammate Miguel Rojas, who raised a post-game clubhouse toast in his honor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

An alternative to jams or jellies, we love spooning it onto bites of toasted bagels or hot buttered toast.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

When a delegation from Quincy came out to visit him to request words for a toast at the local celebration, he was curt.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• crisp
• dry
• grill
• roast
• warm