tote

¹ American  

[toht] / toʊt /

verb (used with object)

toted, toting

1. to carry, as on one's back or in one's arms.

   to tote a bundle.

2. to carry on one's person.

   to tote a gun.

3. to transport or convey, as on a vehicle or boat.

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noun

1. the act or course of toting.

2. something that is toted.

3. tote bag.

tote ² American  

[toht] / toʊt /

verb (used with object)

toted, toting

1. Informal. to add up; total.

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tote ³ American  

[toht] / toʊt /

noun

Informal.

1. a totalizator.

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tote ¹ British  

/ təʊt /

verb

1. (tr) to carry, convey, or drag

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noun

1. the act of or an instance of toting

2. something toted

Tote ² British  

/ təʊt /

noun

1. (sometimes not capital) short for totalizator totalizator

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Other Word Forms

• totable adjective
• toteable adjective
• toter noun

Etymology

Origin of tote¹

An Americanism dating back to 1670–80; origin uncertain

Origin of tote²

First recorded in 1885–90; probably verb use of tote, shortening of total

Origin of tote³

First recorded in 1890–95; by shortening

Example Sentences

She has donned flak jackets on ICE raids, posed toting a large gun and recorded messages urging immigrants to self-deport.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dad drops me off on Saturday with a tote bag full of babysitting supplies.

From Literature

A bald man with olive-toned skin carried a tote bag full of books past him.

From Literature

The black leather tote bag she is often seen carrying has sold out and the pink pen she used at her first press conference has gone viral.

From BBC

A little while later, she came back out toting a lantern and a big shoe box.

From Literature

Related Words

• bag
• handbag
• satchel
• shopping bag
• tote bag