toy

Use toy in a sentence

adjective

The definition of toy is something miniature, like a play thing or used with play things.
1. An example of toy is a small breed of a animal; toy poodle.
2. An example of toy is a box used for keeping dolls in; toy box.

noun

Toy is defined as something to play with, or something small.
1. An example of a toy is a Rubik's cube.
2. An example of a toy is the dog breed Yorkshire Terrier.

verb

Toy means to play with or tease.
An example of toy is when a woman flirts with someone she has no intention of going any further with; toy with someone.

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"toy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 25 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Toy>.

APA Style

toy. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Toy

toy

Obs.
1. amorous behavior; flirtation
2. pastime; sport
a thing of little value or importance; trifle
a little ornament; bauble; trinket
any article to play with, esp. a plaything for children
any small thing, person, or animal; specif., a dog of a small breed, esp. one of the toy breeds

Origin of toy

Middle English toye in toysense ( from uncertain or unknown; perhaps ); other senses from uncertain or unknown; perhaps Middle Dutch toi, finery, ornament; akin to German zeug, Old Norse tygi, stuff, gear, probably akin to tug

like a toy, or plaything, in size, use, etc.
designating a breed of dog of a kind smaller than a miniature, kept typically as a lap dog: a toy poodle
of or being a model, figure, etc., esp. a miniature one, designed to be played with as a toy: a toy soldier, toy fire engine, toy stove
of, containing, or having to do with toys: toy box, toy store

to play or trifle (with a thing, an idea, etc.)
to engage in flirtation; dally

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MLA Style

"toy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 25 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Toy>.

APA Style

toy. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Toy

toy

noun

An object for a child to play with.
Something that provides amusement: “The profit on a toy like a motorcycle or a snowmobile is maybe a tenth that on a solid family car” ( John Updike )
a. A small ornament; a bauble.
b. Something of little importance; a trifle.
A diminutive thing, especially a dog of a very small breed or of a variety smaller than the standard variety of its breed.
Scots A loose covering for the head, formerly worn by women.
Chiefly Southern US A shooter marble.

intransitive verb

toyed, toy·ing, toys

To amuse oneself idly; trifle: a cat toying with a mouse.
To treat something casually or without seriousness: toyed with the idea of writing a play. See Synonyms at flirt.

Origin of toy

Middle English toye amorous play, a piece of fun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"toy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 25 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Toy>.

APA Style

toy. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Toy

Noun

(plural toys)

Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child. [from 16th c.]
A thing of little importance or value; a trifle. [from 16th c.]
A simple, light piece of music, written especially for the virginal. [16th-17th c.]
Spenser
To fly about playing their wanton toys.
Beaumont and Fletcher
What if a toy take 'em in the heels now, and they all run away.
Drayton
Nor light and idle toys my lines may vainly swell.
(slang, derogatory) An inferior graffiti artist.
(Scotland, archaic) A headdress of linen or wool that hangs down over the shoulders, worn by old women of the lower classes; called also toy mutch.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present toys, present participle toying, simple past and past participle toyed)

To play (with).
to toy with a piece of food on one's plate
Figo is toying with the English defence.
To ponder or consider.
I have been toying with the idea of starting my own business.
(slang) To stimulate with a sex toy.

Origin

From Middle English toye (“amorous play, piece of fun or entertainment"), probably from Middle Dutch toy, tuyg (“tools, apparatus, utensil, ornament") as in Dutch speel-tuig (“play-thing, toy"), from Old Dutch *tiug, from Proto-Germanic *tiugijÄ… (“stuff, matter, device", literally "that which is drawn"), from Proto-Germanic *teuhanÄ… (“to lead, bring, pull"), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to pull, lead"). Cognate with German Spielzeug (“toy"), Danish legetÃ¸j (“play-thing, toy"). Related to tug, tow.