Toes I Təʊ Stood Noun Big/Little Largest/Smallest Stubbed

• the big/little toe (= the largest/smallest toe)
• i stubbed my toe on the step.
• can you touch your toes? (= by bending over while keeping your legs straight)
• she wiggled her fingers and toes thoughtfully.

toe

1. one of the five small parts that stick out from the foot; any similar part on the foot of an animal or bird
• the big/little toe (= the largest/smallest toe)
• I stubbed my toe on the step.
• Can you touch your toes? (= by bending over while keeping your legs straight)
• She wiggled her fingers and toes thoughtfully.
• She stood on her toes and kissed him.
• They are ground birds with long toes and claws.

Extra Examples

• He had some kind of fungus between his toes.
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.
• I dipped my toe in the river to test the temperature.
• I stood on the tips of my toes to look through the window.
• Ouch! That was my toe you just trod on.
• She stood on her toes to kiss him.
• She tapped her toes to the music.
• The shoe pressed painfully against her big toe.
• Under his bare toes the floor felt gritty.
2. the part of a sock, shoe, etc. that covers the toes
• He kicked the earth with the toe of his boot.
3. having the type or number of toes mentioned
• SEE ALSO pigeon-toed
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/pigeon-toed
• open-toed sandals
• a three-toed sloth
4. to refuse to do something or to change your mind about something
• They dug their toes in and would not lower the price.
5. to start doing something very carefully to see if it will be successful or not
• We decided to dip a toe in the computer games market.
6. covering your whole body
• We were covered from head to foot in mud.
• She was dressed from head to toe in red.
7. completely; all over
• She was dressed in green from top to toe.
8. to make sure that somebody is ready to deal with anything that might happen by doing things that they are not expecting
• Surprise visits help to keep the staff on their toes.
• The threat of inspections kept us all on our toes.
9. to make somebody feel embarrassed or uncomfortable
• SEE ALSO toe-curling
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/toe-curling
• The man's broad smile made her toes curl.
10. to offend or annoy somebody, especially by getting involved in something that is their responsibility
• I don’t want to tread on anybody’s toes so I’ll keep quiet.

Word Origin

• Old English tā, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch tee and German Zeh, Zehe. Current senses of the verb date from the mid 19th cent.