toy
pronunciation
How to pronounce toy in British English:
UK [tɔɪ]
How to pronounce toy in American English:
US [tɔɪ]
-
- Noun:
- an artifact designed to be played with
- a nonfunctional replica of something else (frequently used as a modifier)
- copy that reproduces something in greatly reduced size
- any of several breeds of very small dogs kept purely as pets
-
- Verb:
- behave carelessly or indifferently
- manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination
- engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously
Word Origin
- toy
- toy: [14] Nothing is known for certain about the origins of toy. It originally meant ‘amorous dalliance’ (‘So said he, and forbore not glance or toy, of amorous intent, well understood of Eve’, Milton, Paradise Lost 1667), traces of which survive in the verbal sense ‘amuse oneself idly’. ‘Plaything’ first appeared towards the end of the 16th century.
- toy (n.)
- c. 1300, "amorous playing, sport," later "piece of fun or entertainment" (c. 1500), "thing of little value, trifle" (1520s), and "thing for a child to play with" (1580s). Of uncertain origin, and there may be more than one word here. Compare Middle Dutch toy, Dutch tuig "tools, apparatus; stuff, trash," in speeltuig "play-toy, plaything;" German Zeug "stuff, matter, tools," Spielzeug "plaything, toy;" Danish tøi, Swedish tyg "stuff, gear." Applied as an adjective to things of diminutive size, especially dogs, from 1806. Toy-boy is from 1981.
- toy (v.)
- "deal carelessly (with), trifle," 1520s, from toy (n.) in its older sense. If he be merie and toy with any, His wife will frowne, and words geve manye. ["Song of the Bachelor's Life," 16c.] Related: Toyed; toying.
Example
- 1. Apps for the iphone are another popular campaign toy .
- 2. The toy manufacturers usually know their stuff .
- 3. The toy also moves forward very slightly .
- 4. He played with a toy farmhouse .
- 5. A toy factory nearby closed down this year .