toy

[ toi ]

/ tɔɪ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: toy / toyer / toyest / toying on Thesaurus.com

noun

an object, often a small representation of something familiar, as an animal or person, for children or others to play with; plaything.

a thing or matter of little or no value or importance; a trifle.

something that serves for or as if for diversion, rather than for serious practical use.

a small article of little value but prized as a souvenir or for some other special reason; trinket; knickknack; bauble.

something diminutive, especially in comparison with like objects.

an animal of a breed or variety noted for smallness of size: The winning terrier at the dog show was a toy.

a close-fitting cap of linen or wool, with flaps coming down to the shoulders, formerly worn by women in Scotland.

a simple, light piece of music, especially of 16th or 17th century England, written for the virginal.

Obsolete.

amorous dallying.
a playful or amusing act; diversion; pastime.

adjective

made or designed for use as a toy: a toy gun.

of or resembling a toy, especially diminutive in size.

verb (used without object)

to amuse oneself; play.

to act idly; or with indifference; trifle: to toy with one's food.

to dally amorously; flirt.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of toy

1275–1325; Middle English toye dalliance; of obscure origin

OTHER WORDS FROM toy

toyer, nountoyless, adjectivetoylike, adjective

Words nearby toy

toxocariasis, toxoid, toxophilite, toxoplasma, toxoplasmosis, toy, Toyama, toy boy, toy dog, toyetic, toymaker

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use toy in a sentence

Frequently confined indoors by his illness, “I was the kid who would break toys apart to put them back together,” Hayes-Mota recalls.
Childhood medical battles shaped his quest to deliver more effective treatments|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Last week, you were playing with a toy that had five rings of different diameters and a tapered column.
Can The Hare Beat The Tortoise?|Zach Wissner-Gross|July 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Here’s the story of how a toy model of magnetism demystified phase transitions, became ubiquitous in science and continues to help push the boundaries of knowledge today.
The Cartoon Picture of Magnets That Has Transformed Science|Charlie Wood|June 24, 2020|Quanta Magazine
The toy’s wheeled platform can carry a standing rider around the neighborhood.
Batteries should not burst into flames|Carolyn Wilke|April 16, 2020|Science News For Students

They explore the world through play, he adds, whether it’s stacking toys or building bike ramps.
Science isn’t just for scientists|Silke Schmidt|March 5, 2020|Science News For Students
I know that I cannot carry a gun in public and neither can my sons, even if it is a toy.
What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face?|Goldie Taylor|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The line right before this is “With little tin horns and little toy drums.”
The Most Confusing Christmas Music Lyrics Explained (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A car was indeed dispatched, with no mention that the suspect was possibly a juvenile and that the gun might be a toy.
The Cleveland Cops Who Fired 137 Shots and Cried Victim|Michael Daly|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For decades, toy production and marketing was increasingly gender neutral.
Sexism Begins in the Toy Aisle|Nancy Kaffer|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then last week, a 12-year-old in Cleveland shot dead for holding a toy gun.
Raging Protesters Set Ferguson on Fire|Justin Glawe|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The same outpourings of affection are seen in the dealings of children with their toy babies and animals.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Apprend vistement nostre langue, car aussy tost que tu la sauras et m'auras bien enseingn, je veux estre prescheur comme toy.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Aristide darted off like a dragon-fly in the sunshine, as happy as a child with a new toy.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The whole thing begins to have a jigsaw look, like a child's toy rack with wooden soldiers on it, expanding and contracting.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
As “t” stands for 1, and o and y are vowels, and have no figure value, the numerical value of Toy must be 1.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)

British Dictionary definitions for toy

toy

/ (tɔɪ) /

noun

an object designed to be played with

something that is a nonfunctioning replica of something else, esp a miniature one
(as modifier)a toy guitar

any small thing of little value; trifle

something small or miniature, esp a miniature variety of a breed of dog
(as modifier)a toy poodle

verb

(intr usually foll by with) to play, fiddle, or flirt

Derived forms of toy

toyer, nountoyless, adjectivetoylike, adjective

Word Origin for toy

C16 (in the sense: amorous dalliance): of uncertain origin

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