toss
(tôs, tŏs)
[Middle English tossen, possibly of Scandinavian origin.]
verb: tossed, toss·ing, toss·es.
transitive verb
- To throw lightly or casually or with a sudden slight jerk: tossed the shirt on the floor. See synonyms at throw
- To throw, fling, or heave continuously about; pitch to and fro: boats that were tossed by the storm.
- To throw upward: The bull tossed him over the fence.
- To mix (a salad) lightly so as to cover with dressing.
- To discuss informally; bandy: tossed the idea around.
- To move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion: “tossing their heads in sprightly dance” (William Wordsworth)
- To disturb or agitate; upset.
- To throw to the ground: ducked the blow and tossed his opponent.
- To flip (coins) in order to decide an issue.
- To flip coins with: I'll toss you to see who goes first.
- To put in a given position, condition, or situation: tossed the criminal in jail.
- To throw away; discard: I tossed the newspaper after reading it.
- To disqualify or eject: The starter was tossed for throwing illegal pitches.
intransitive verb
- To be thrown here and there; be flung to and fro.
- To move about restlessly; twist and turn: toss in one's sleep.
- To flip a coin to decide an issue.
noun
- The act of tossing or the condition of being tossed.
- The distance that something is or can be tossed.
- An abrupt upward movement, as of the head.
- A flipping of a coin to decide an issue: The home team won the toss and elected to receive.
phrasal verbs
- toss down
- To drink in one draft by suddenly tilting.
- toss off
- To drink up in one draft.
- To do or finish effortlessly or casually: “technicians who can toss off the Romantic blockbusters with stupendous speed” (Annalyn Swan)
derivatives
- tosśer
- noun