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

For small lumps, use a toothpick, chopstick, or the back of a spoon or fork to gently break them up inside the jar. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 May 2026

Heavier spars require a larger sail while people who build miniature kites sometimes don’t include a spar or will only use half a toothpick, Choi said. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026

Bake about 25 minutes for 9-inch pans, about 35 minutes for 8-inch pans, or until a wooden toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2026

Finishing School is a column in which Mary Norris, The New Yorker’s Comma Queen, asks the eternal questions—Are you supposed to take the toothpick out of the sandwich or eat around it? —Mary Norris, New Yorker, 1 May 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