tool
1464
and used for doing special jobs, such as a hammer, spade, or
SCREWDRIVER: a set of tools -> see also MACHINE TOOL; see
MACHINE (USAGE) 2 something necessary or useful for doing
one's job: Words are the tools of his trade. | This computer
program gives managers a valuable planning tool. 3 [C] a
person unfairly or dishonestly used by another for the other
person's own purposes: The king was just the tool of the
military government. 4 taboo slang for PENIS -> see also down
tools (DOWN)
tool² v 1 [T] to shape or make with a tool: The artist tooled a
pattern onto the cover of the book with a hot needle. | hand-
tooled leather boots 2 [I+adv/prep] infml to ride or drive: We
were tooling along (the road) at 50 miles per hour.
tool (sthg. ⇆) up phr v [I;T] to prepare (a factory) for
production by providing the necessary tools and machinery
tool-bar /'tu:lba:r/ n a row of small pictures at the top of a
computer screen that allow you to do particular things in a
document
'tool box n a box for tools
,tooled 'up adj British infml having or carrying a weapon
'tool kit n a number of different tools for doing most jobs
tool-shed /'tu:lʃed/ n a small wooden building in a private
garden where garden or other tools are kept
toot /tu:t/ v [I;T] 1 to (cause to) make a short warning or
greeting sound with a horn, whistle etc: The drivers were
tooting their horns. 2 AmE slang to take (the drug COCAINE) up
through the nose — toot n: to give a toot on one's horn
tooth /tu:θ/ n pl. teeth /ti:θ/ 1 any of the small hard bony
objects growing in the upper and lower parts of the mouth of
most animals, used for biting and chewing (CHEW) food:
Brush your teeth twice a day. | I'm going to the dentist to have
a tooth out. 2 any of the narrow pointed parts that stand out
from a comb, SAW, COG etc 3 tooth and nail with great
violence or determination: We fought tooth and nail to get
our plans accepted. 4 -toothed /tu:θt/ having teeth of the
stated kind or number -> see also TEETH, SWEET TOOTH, long
in the tooth (LONG) — less adj
tooth-ache /'tu:θ-eɪk/ n [C;U] (a) pain in a tooth -> see
ACHE (USAGE)
tooth-brush /'tu:θbrʌʃ/ n a small brush used for cleaning
one's teeth -> see picture at BRUSH
tooth-comb /'tu:θkəʊm/ n -> see FINE-TOOTH COMB
'tooth fairy n an imaginary small person who some parents
tell their children will leave them a coin in return for a tooth
which has fallen out, if they leave the tooth under their
PILLOW at night
tooth-less /'tu:θləs/ adj having no teeth: a toothless smile
tooth-paste /'tu:θpeɪst/ n [U] a specially prepared sub-
stance for cleaning one's teeth
tooth-pick /'tu:θpɪk/ n a short thin pointed piece of wood,
plastic etc, used for removing food stuck between one's
teeth
'tooth powder n [U] a specially prepared powder for
cleaning one's teeth
tooth-some /'tu:θsəm/ adj fml or humor (especially of food)
pleasant: toothsome delicacies
tooth-y /'tu:θi/ adj infml having or showing many or big teeth:
a toothy grin
toot-le /'tu:tl/ v infml 1 [I+adv/prep] BrE to go or drive in an
unhurried manner: I must just tootle down to the shops for
some flour. 2 [I;T] to TOOT continuously and quietly: He was
tootling (on) his trumpet. — tootle n
toots /tuts/ also tootsie n AmE infml old fash (used as a friendly
form of address to a woman, which some women find
offensive): Hi toots! How are you doing?
toot-sie, tootsy /'tutsi/ n 1 (used by or to a child) a
foot 2 AmE infml TOOTS
'Tootsie Roll trademark a type of small, tube-shaped CHEWY
sweet with a chocolate taste, sold in the US
top¹ /tɒp||ta:p/ n 1 [C (of)] the highest or upper part: the top of
the hill | The mountain tops were hidden in mist. | Her name
was at the top of the list/page. | the top (=upper surface) of my
desk | the table top | He wore a woolly hat with a little red
bobble on top. 2 [the S (of)] the best, most important or most
successful part or place: She is always at the top of the class.
(=always gets the highest marks) | He started life at the bottom
and worked his way up to the top. | The workers in this
industry have always been at the top of the wages league.
The company will have to expand if it wants to stay on
top. 3 [C] a cover, especially for a small container: I can't
unscrew the top of this bottle. | He left the top off the tooth-
paste. -> compare CAP, LID 4 [C] a garment worn on the
upper part of the body: a skirt with a matching top 5 [in U
the highest GEAR of a motor vehicle 6 [C usually pl.] the
highest part(s) of a plant, usually leaves: birds flying through
the treetops | turnip tops 7 the first half of an INNING: the top
of the ninth 8 at the top of one's voice (shouting or
singing) as loudly as possible 9 at top speed very
fast 10 from top to bottom (of a place or organization) all the way
through; completely: This company needs reorganizing from
top to bottom. 11 from top to toe (of a person) completely:
She was dressed in green from top to toe. 12 from the top infml
from the beginning: Play the song through again from the
top. 13 get on top of infml to be too much or too difficult
for: This work is getting on top of me. 14 off the top of one's
head at once, without careful thought: I'm not sure of the
answer, but off the top of my head I'd say there were about
30. 15 on top of a) in addition to: He lost his job and on top
of that his wife left him. b) in complete control of: a
competent teacher who's really on top of his job 16 on top of
the world very happy 17 over the top infml, especially BrE more
than is reasonable, sensible, or proper: His jokes are always
in such bad taste; he can't be funny without going over the
top. 18 the top of the tree infml the highest position in a
profession 19 top whack BrE infml at most; at the highest:
The rate's about £7 an hour, or maybe £8 top whack. ->
compare BOTTOM; see also TOPS, BIG TOP, SCREW TOP, blow
one's top (BLOW), thin on top (THIN)
top² adj of or at the top; highest, best, most important etc:
floor of a building | Our team's on top form (=playing very
well) this month. | one of this country's top businessmen.
came (out) top in the exam. | He got top marks. | They agreed
to give the matter top priority.
top³ v -pp- [T] 1 to be higher, better, or more than: Our
profits have topped £1,000,000 this year. | I can top your story
with an even funnier one. | A rival company has topped our
offer with a bid of $25 million. 2 [(with)] to provide or form a
top for: The cake was topped with cream. 3 (in sport) to hit
(a ball) above the centre 4 top the bill to be the chief actor
or actress in a show or play
top sthg. ⇆ off phr v [T] especially AmE 1 to complete
successfully by a last action: Let's top off the evening with a
drink. 2 to TOP OUT (2)
top out phr v 1 [I] to reach a highest point (and stop
rising): Do you think interest rates have topped out
now? 2 [(top sthg. ⇆ out)] especially BrE to complete the build-
ing of (a large building), especially with a special ceremony
top sthg./sbdy. ⇆ up phr v [T] especially BrE 1 [(with)] a)
fill (a partly empty container) with liquid: to top up the petrol
tank b) infml to put more drink into (a person's) glass: Your
glass is nearly empty; let me top you up! 2 to complete or
bring to an acceptable level by adding something: The
director's salary is topped up by a share in the company's
profits.
top⁴ n 1 a child's toy that is made to spin and balance on its
point by twisting it sharply 2 like a top (sleeping) deeply
and well
to-paz /'təupæz/ n [C;U] (a precious stone cut from)
transparent yellowish mineral
top 'brass n [the U+sing./pl. v] infml people in positions of high
rank, especially the armed forces
top-coat /'tɒpkəut||'ta:p-/ n 1 [C;U] the last covering of
paint to be put on a surface -> compare UNDERCOAT 2 [C
an OVERCOAT
top 'dog n infml the person in the highest or most important
position, especially after a struggle or effort
top 'dollar n [U] AmE an expression meaning a large amount
of money, used especially in newspapers: People are prepared
to pay top dollar for homes in this neighborhood.
top-'down adj beginning with the general principles of a
situation and working from there to specific details