tole

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈtōl 

often attributive

: sheet metal and especially tinplate for use in domestic and ornamental wares in which it is usually japanned or painted and often elaborately decorated

also : objects made of tole

toll

2 of 6

noun (2)

ˈtōl 

1

: a tax or fee paid for some liberty or privilege (as of passing over a highway or bridge)

2

: compensation for services rendered: such as

a

: a charge for transportation

b

: a charge for a long-distance telephone call

3

: a grievous or ruinous price

inflation has taken its toll

especially : cost in life or health

the death toll from the hurricane

toll

3 of 6

verb (1)

tolled; tolling; tolls

intransitive verb

: to take or levy toll

transitive verb

1

a

: to exact part of as a toll

b

: to take as toll

2

: to exact a toll from (someone)

toll

4 of 6

verb (2)

tolled; tolling; tolls

intransitive verb

: to sound with slow measured strokes

the bell tolls solemnly

transitive verb

1

: to sound (a bell) by pulling the rope

2

a

: to give signal or announcement of

the clock tolled each hour

b

: to announce by tolling

church bells tolled the death of the bishop

c

: to call to or from a place or occasion

bells tolled the congregation to church

toll

5 of 6

noun (3)

: the sound of a tolling bell

toll

6 of 6

verb (3)

ˈtōl 

variants or tole

tolled or toled; tolling or toling

transitive verb

1

: allure, entice

2

a

: to entice (game) to approach

b

: to attract (fish) with scattered bait

c

: to lead or attract (domestic animals) to a desired point

Synonyms of tole

Verb (2)

• ring

Examples of tole in a Sentence

Verb (2)

let the church bells joyously toll on this most happy occasion

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Which means the island craves eight more souls, one for each bell toll. —Jen Chaney, Vulture, 17 June 2026

Originally built in 1889 as a toll road between Blowing Rock and Linville, the scenic route offers sweeping mountain views and serves as the backbone of a roughly 50-mile loop through the High Country. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026

Verb

Shippers and producers have grown increasingly concerned about the prospect that Iran will seek to toll the strait in future, after the memorandum of understanding signed with the US said only that transit would be free for the duration of its 60-day term. —Alex Longley, Fortune, 20 June 2026

Trump said Xi also told him that China intended to continue buying oil from Iran, even as Beijing opposed any effort by Iran to militarize or effectively toll the Strait of Hormuz. —Nik Popli, Time, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French tôle, from Middle French dialect taule, from Latin tabula board, tablet

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English, from Vulgar Latin *tolonium, alteration of Late Latin telonium customhouse, from Greek tolōnion, from telōnēs collector of tolls, from telos tax, toll; perhaps akin to Greek tlēnai to bear

Verb (2)

Middle English, to pull, drag, toll (a bell), perhaps alteration of toilen to struggle — more at toil

Verb (3)

Middle English tollen, tolen; akin to Old English fortyllan to seduce

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tole

• death toll
• sound/ring/toll the death knell
• take a/its toll
• toll call
• toll-free
• toll plaza

Rhymes for tole

• bole
• bowl
• coal
• droll
• foal
• goal
• hole
• knoll
• kol
• mole
• noll
• nolle