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Added 9 October 2026

toast

/təʊst/ noun

In Latin: prōpīnātiō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about toast at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Slices of bread that have been toasted.
A celebrity who receives much acclaim and attention.
he was the toast of the town
A person in desperate straits; someone doomed.
I'm a goner if this plan doesn't work

verb

Make brown and crisp by heating.
toast bread
Propose a toast to.
Let us toast the birthday girl!

Origin

From Middle English tost, from the verb tosten (see below). Etymology 1 sense 3 is according to the Oxford English Dictionary a figurative application of etymology 1 sense 1 dating to 1674. It began as an epithet for a lady being supposed to flavour a bumper like a spiced toast placed in that drink. (In this context, a bumper is a drinking vessel filled to the brim.)

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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