What does toothpick mean?
A toothpick is a small, thin stick with a pointed end, traditionally made from wood and used to remove food particles from between the teeth. It is a familiar everyday object, commonly associated with eating, restaurants, dental care, and the habit of placing a toothpick in the mouth after a meal. In figurative language, a toothpick can describe something unusually thin, pointed, or precise, and comparisons involving a toothpick often suggest delicacy or sharpness. The word is an English compound of tooth and pick: the first identifies the intended area of use, while the second refers to the pointed, pricking end. Although the object is simple, its wording is unusually transparent and memorable. The same form can also function as a rare informal verb meaning to remove something from between the teeth with a toothpick.
A small, slender stick with a pointed end, used to remove food or debris from between the teeth; figuratively, a thin pointed object.
"She reached for a toothpick after noticing something stuck between her teeth."
The noun is neutral and widely used in both formal and informal contexts.
To remove something from between the teeth with a toothpick.
"He toothpicked his teeth after finishing the meal."
This verb is uncommon and informal.
The regular plural is toothpicks.
"The restaurant placed toothpicks in a small container by the register."
The word toothpick was created simply by joining two English words, tooth and pick, making it a perfect example of how ordinary language can turn a useful tool into an instantly understandable compound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does toothpick come from?
Toothpick is an English compound formed from tooth and pick. The word tooth comes from Old English tōþ, while pick in the sense of a pointed tool has a separate Germanic and medieval English history. The compound appears in English during the early modern period and has long referred to a small pointed stick for cleaning between the teeth. Its later figurative uses reflect the object's characteristic narrow, pointed shape.
Related word forms
How toothpick is actually used
As a noun, toothpick is neutral and everyday, though it is more common in contexts involving eating or dental care. As a verb, it is uncommon and informal, meaning to remove something from between the teeth with a toothpick.