What does toe mean?
A toe is any of the five digits at the end of the foot. The word can also refer by extension to the front or pointed end of a shoe, sock, or other covering, and it may describe a small projection at the end of a tool or machine. As a verb, toe means to move or touch something with the toes; in the familiar expression toe the line, it means to comply with an instruction or rule. In British and American English, toe is generally neutral and unremarkable, but it appears in several vivid idioms, including keep your toes crossed and from tip to toe. The word has an old Germanic history: it descends from Old English tā, while the related forms digit and digital reflect a wider family of words associated with fingers and digits. Its simple modern form makes it especially useful in descriptions of anatomy, clothing, movement, and balance.
One of the five digits at the end of the foot; by extension, the front or pointed end of a shoe, sock, or similar covering.
"The blister on his heel made walking uncomfortable, but the toe was only a little sore."
In anatomy, the great toe is the largest digit on the inner side of the foot. In clothing and footwear, toe commonly refers to the forward part of a shoe or sock.
To move or touch something with the toes; in the expression toe the line, to comply with an instruction or accepted standard.
"He frowned and toed the dirt around the edge of the flower bed."
The verb is relatively uncommon compared with the noun; toe the line is its best-known idiomatic use.
The standard plural of toe is toes.
"Her toes were cramped inside the narrow leather shoes."
Toe is an old English survivor, descending from the Old English word tā, and the word's familiar sound has changed considerably over time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does toe come from?
English toe descends from Old English tā, an inherited Germanic word. Its cognates include Old Norse tá and forms in Dutch and German that refer to the foot's digits. The English word belongs to a broader Indo-European family associated with fingers and digits, reflected in Latin forms such as digitus and in related words including digital and dactyl.
Related word forms
How toe is actually used
In ordinary British and American English, toe is a neutral, everyday word. The expression toe the line is idiomatic and means to follow rules or accept limits; a toe in this phrase is not necessarily the literal end of a shoe.
Easily confused with toe
A toe is a digit at the end of the foot, whereas a tow is something pulled or dragged, as in towing a vehicle.