toy

¹toy

noun \ˈtȯi\

Definition of TOY

1

obsolete

a : flirtatious or seductive behavior

b : pastime; also : a sportive or amusing act : antic

2

a : something (as a preoccupation) that is paltry or trifling

b : a literary or musical trifle or diversion

c : trinket, bauble

3

: something for a child to play with

4

: something diminutive; especially : a diminutive animal (as of a small breed or variety)

5

: something that can be toyed with

6

Scottish : a headdress of linen or woolen hanging down over the shoulders and formerly worn by old women of the lower classes

— toy·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of TOY

1. Please put away your toys.
2. He bought a new TV and a few other toys.
3. Her latest toy is a sports car.
4. Your car is just a toy compared to this truck.

Origin of TOY

Middle English toye

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with TOY

boy, buoy, cloy, coy, foy, goy, hoy, joy, koi, oy, ploy, poi, Roy, soy, troy, Troy

²toy

intransitive verb

Definition of TOY

1

: to act or deal with something lightly or without vigor or purpose <toyed with the idea>

2

: to engage in flirtation

3

: to amuse oneself as if with a toy : play <they're just toying with him>

— toy·er \ˈtȯi-ər\ noun

Examples of TOY

1. <the cat toyed with the mouse it had caught, batting it about>
2. <likes to toy with men whom she has no intention of actually dating>

First Known Use of TOY

circa 1529

Related to TOY

Synonyms

dally, disport, frolic, recreate, rollick, skylark, sport, play

Related Words

cavort, frisk, gambol, romp; dabble, trifle; amuse, divert, entertain; delight, please; dabble, fiddle (around), mess around, putter (around); bum (around), dawdle, goldbrick, hang, hang about [British], idle, loaf, lounge (around or about), relax, rest, screw around, slack (off); jest, joke, tease

Near Antonyms

drudge, labor, plod, plug (away), slave, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, work

See Synonym Discussion at trifle

³toy

adjective

Definition of TOY

1

: of diminutive size compared to a standard form or breed <a toy dog>

2

: designed or made for use as a toy <a toy stove>

Examples of TOY

1. Put your toys back in the toy box .

First Known Use of TOY

1801

toy

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Plaything for a child or infant. Toys survive from the remote past and from a great variety of cultures. They range from the simple to the complex, from a stick or piece of string that becomes a toy in a child's hands to complex mechanical and electronic devices. Perennial favorites include balls, jump ropes, dolls, drums, whistles, dice, jackstones, board games, marbles, play weapons, and costumes. In the modern era the toy industry has grown tremendously, especially with the advent of computer games.