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toll

noun (1)
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\ ˈtōl How to pronounce toll (audio) \

Definition of toll

 (Entry 1 of 5)

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

verb (1)
tolled; tolling; tolls

Definition of toll (Entry 2 of 5)

intransitive verb

: to take or levy toll

transitive verb

1a : to exact part of as a toll
b : to take as toll
2 : to exact a toll from (someone)

toll

verb (2)
tolled; tolling; tolls

Definition of toll (Entry 3 of 5)

intransitive verb

: to sound with slow measured strokes the bell tolls solemnly

transitive verb

1 : to sound (a bell) by pulling the rope
2a : 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

noun (2)

Definition of toll (Entry 4 of 5)

: the sound of a tolling bell

toll

verb (3)
\ ˈtōl How to pronounce toll (audio) \
variants: or tole
tolled or toled; tolling or toling

Definition of toll (Entry 5 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : allure, entice
2a : to entice (game) to approach
b : to attract (fish) with scattered bait
c : to lead or attract (domestic animals) to a desired point

First Known Use of toll

Noun (1)

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 (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for toll

Noun (1)

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

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Time Traveler for toll

Time Traveler

The first known use of toll was before the 12th century

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Statistics for toll

Cite this Entry

“Toll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toll. Accessed 24 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for toll

toll

noun
\ ˈtōl How to pronounce toll (audio) \

Kids Definition of toll

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a tax paid for a privilege (as the use of a highway or bridge)
2 : a charge paid for a service
3 : the cost in life or health

toll

verb
tolled; tolling

Kids Definition of toll (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to announce or call by the sounding of a bell The clock tolled midnight.
2 : to sound with slow strokes Bells tolled solemnly.

toll

noun

Kids Definition of toll (Entry 3 of 3)

: the sound of a bell ringing slowly

toll

noun

Legal Definition of toll

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: a charge for the use of a transportation route or facility broadly : a charge for use a water toll

toll

verb

Legal Definition of toll (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to take away (as a right)
2a : to remove the effect of the court did not toll the statute of repose after the statutory period had expired
b : suspend sense 2a toll the running of the statute of limitations — compare run

intransitive verb

: to be suspended statute of limitations tolls for a period of seventy-five days following the notice — Parker v. Yen, 823 S.W.2d 359 (1991)

toll

noun

Legal Definition of toll (Entry 3 of 3)

: a suspension of effect the court extended the statute of limitations toll

History and Etymology for toll

Noun

Old English, tax or fee paid for a liberty or privilege, ultimately from Late Latin telonium custom house, from Greek tolōnion, from telōnēs collector of tolls, from telos tax, toll

Verb

Anglo-French tollir toller to take away, make null, bar, ultimately from Latin tollere to lift up, take away

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More from Merriam-Webster on toll

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for toll

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with toll

Spanish Central: Translation of toll

Nglish: Translation of toll for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of toll for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about toll

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