toothpick

noun

tooth·​pick ˈtüth-ˌpik 

: a pointed instrument (such as a slender tapering piece of wood) for removing food particles lodged between the teeth

Examples of toothpick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Uncover and continue baking for 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is puffed and appears dry, and a toothpick inserted into the brownie portion near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Beneath the cloth, small toothpicks held in place with putty support printouts of landmark research papers that advanced the techniques behind modern AI generation, including diffusion. — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Unscrewing its top reveals a small pin that can be used for punching holes, ejecting a SIM card, or simply as a toothpick. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026

Pile them onto a platter with toothpicks, or put out slider buns and let people build their own. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for toothpick

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• picnic
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick

Kids Definition

toothpick

noun

tooth·​pick -ˌpik 

: a pointed instrument (as a thin piece of wood) for removing substances caught between the teeth

Medical Definition

toothpick

noun

tooth·​pick -ˌpik 

: a pointed instrument (as a slender tapering piece of wood) used for removing food particles lodged between the teeth