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**touch**---
**toss¹** /tɒs $ tɔːs/ *v* **1 [T(to)]** to throw especially in a careless or aimless way: *They tossed their hats in the air. | The children tossed the ball to each other.* **| [+obj(i)+obj(d)]** *I tossed him a cigarette.* **2 [I;T(ABOUT)]** to (cause to) move about continuously in an aimless or violent way: *My husband was tossing about / tossing and turning all night. He couldn't get to sleep. | The boat was tossed this way and that in the stormy sea.* **3 [I;T(UP, for)]** to throw or FLIP (a coin) in the air in order to decide something, according to which side lands face upwards: *The two captains tossed (up)/tossed a coin before the match. (=to decide which team would play first etc) | There's only one cake left - I'll toss you for it. (=compete with you for it by tossing a coin)* $\rightarrow$ see also TOSS-UP **4 [T]** to throw (a PANCAKE) into the air from a FRYING PAN so that it turns over in the air and lands back in the pan **5 [T(in, with)]** to mix or shake lightly: *Toss the cooked vegetables in butter.* **6 [T]** to move or lift (part of the body) rapidly: *The horse tossed its head back and smelt the wind. | She tossed her head angrily.***toss off** *phr v* **1 [T(toss sthg. $\iff$ off)]** to produce quickly with little effort: *The painter tossed off a couple of sketches before lunch.* **2 [T(toss sthg. $\iff$ off)]** to drink quickly: *Jack tossed off several pints of beer in quick succession.* **3 [I;T(= toss sbdy. $\iff$ off)]** *BrE taboo slang* to MASTURBATE**toss²** *n* **1 [C]** an act of tossing: *with a toss of her head* **2 [the S]** an act of tossing a coin to decide something: *Our team won the toss so we play first.* **3 [C]** *old-fash* a fall, especially as a result of being thrown from a horse **4 [S usually in negatives]** *BrE slang* the least amount; anything: *I couldn't give a toss (=I don't care at all) what he thinks.* $\rightarrow$ see also **argue the toss (ARGUE)****toss·er** /'tɒsə $ 'tɔːsər/ *n BrE derog slang* an offensive word for someone who you think is stupid or unpleasant
**'toss-up** *n* **1 [S]** *infml* an even chance; an uncertainty: *It's a toss-up between the two of them as to who will get the job. (=either of them might equally well do so) | It's a toss-up whether we'll manage to finish this job in time.* **2 [C usually sing.]** an act of tossing a coin to decide something**tos·ta·da** /tɒ'stɑːdə $ tɔː'stɑː-/ *n* a type of Mexican food made with a fried (FRY) TORTILLA with meat or beans and often LETTUCE and TOMATO on top**tot¹** /tɒt $ tɑːt/ *n* **1** *infml* a very small child: *a picture book for tiny tots* **2 [(of)]** a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink: *a tot of rum/whisky***tot²** *v -tt-*
**tot sthg. $\iff$ up** *phr v [T] infml* to add up (numbers, money etc)
**to·tal¹** /'təʊtl $ 'toʊtl/ *adj [no comp.]* **1** complete; ABSOLUTE: *We sat in total silence. | He stayed away, in total disregard of my instructions. | I'm afraid the performance wasn't exactly a total success.* **2 [A]** being a total; considered as a complete amount: *the total number of cars produced this month* **---ly** *adv*: *I totally agree with you. | She's totally committed to the cause. | Their personalities are totally different.***total²** *n* **1** a number or quantity obtained as the result of addition; complete amount: *Add these numbers together and tell me the total. | A total of 20,000 people visited the castle on the first day it was open to the public.* **2 in total** when all have been added up: *These products, in total, account for about 80% of all our sales.* $\rightarrow$ see also SUM TOTAL**total³** *v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE* **1 [L+n]** to be when added up: *They have debts totalling £100,000.* **2 [T(UP)]** to find the total of; add up **3 [T]** *AmE* to damage (a car) so badly that it cannot be repaired: *Her car got totalled but she wasn't hurt.***Total** *trademark* a chain of PETROL STATIONS in the UK, owned by the European company TotalFinaElf
**total e'clipse** *n* an ECLIPSE in which all the light of the sun or moon, viewed from the Earth, seems to disappear
**to·tal·i·tar·i·an** /təʊˌtælə'teəriən $ toʊˌtælə'ter-/ *adj* of or based on a political system in which every citizen is subject to the power of the state, which exercises complete control over all areas of life: *a totalitarian state***to·tal·i·tar·i·an·ism** /təʊˌtælə'teəriənɪzəm $ toʊˌtælə'ter-/ *n [U]* the practices and principles of a totalitarian state
**to·tal·i·ty** /təʊ'tæləti $ toʊ'tæ-/ *n [U] fml* **1** the state of being whole; completeness: *to look at the problem in its totality* **2** a total amount; sum**to·tal·i·za·tor** also **-isator** *BrE* /'təʊtəlaɪzeɪtə $ -lər-/ *n fml* a **tote**
**tote¹** /təʊt $ toʊt/ *v [T(AROUND)] infml, especially AmE* to carry especially in one's arms or near one's body: *She came in toting the baby in her arms and a diaper bag over her shoulder. | gun-toting cowboys***tote²** *n* **1** also **parimutuel machine** *AmE* — a machine that shows the number of BETs placed on each horse or dog in a race and the amount to be paid to the people who risked money on the winners **2 [the (+cap.)]** *BrE* a short name for the Horserace Totalisator Board, an organization that operates a betting (BET) system and owns over 100 betting shops**'tote bag** *n especially AmE* a large bag for carrying things in
**to·tem** /'təʊtem $ 'toʊtem/ *n* **1** (a representation, especially on wood, of) an animal, plant, or object that is thought by certain societies, especially Native Americans, to have a close relationship with the tribal group and is used as a sign of that tribe **2** *often derog* something that is thought of as especially worthy of respect in a society **---ic** /təʊ'temɪk/ *adj***'totem pole** *n* **1** a tall wooden pole with one or more totems cut or painted on it, put up by the Native Americans of northwest N America **2 top man on the totem pole** *AmE infml* the most important person in an organization**to·to** /'təʊtəʊ/ $\rightarrow$ see IN TOTO
**Toto** the dog belonging to Dorothy in *The Wizard of Oz*
**Tot·ten·ham Court Road** /ˌtɒtn-əm kɔːt 'ræʊd || ˌtɑːtn-əm kɔːrt-/ a street in central London, known for its shops selling electronic goods such as STEREO systems, televisions, and computer equipment**Tottenham Hot·spur** /ˌtɒtn-əm 'hɒtspɜː || ˌtɑːtn-əm 'hɑːtspɜːr/ the full name of SPURS, a football team from North London
**tot·ter** /'tɒtə $ 'tɑːtər/ *v [I]* **1** to shake or move unsteadily from side to side as if about to fall: *The pile of books tottered then fell. | (fig.) The empire is tottering (on the edge of ruin).* **2 [+adv/prep]** to walk with weak unsteady steps: *The old lady tottered down the stairs.* $\rightarrow$ compare STAGGER**tot·ter·y** /'tɒtəri $ 'tɑː-/ *adj* unsteady; shaky
**'totting-up** *n [U]* the former British legal practice of forbidding people from driving if they had been guilty of more than a certain number of traffic offences: *He would have been disqualified under the totting-up method***tot·ty** /'tɒti $ 'tɑːti/ *n [U] BrE infml slang* an offensive word used by men to refer to women whom they think are sexually attractive**tou·can** /'tuːkən, -kæn $ -n/ a tropical American bird with bright feathers and a very large beak
**touch¹** /tʌtʃ/ *v* **1 [I;T]** to be separated (from) by no space at all; be in CONTACT (with): *They stood close together with their shoulders touching. | The branches hung down and touched the water. | (fig.) The speedometer needle touched (=reached) 90 mph.* **2 [I;T]** to feel, strike lightly, or make connection (with), especially with the hands or fingers: *Don't touch! | Visitors are requested not to touch the paintings. | If I stand on a chair I can touch the ceiling with a stick.* **3 [T usually in negatives]** to handle: *Don't touch anything until the police arrive. | 'Who's broken my pen?' 'Not me — I never touched it!' | (fig.) He swore he'd never touch a drink (=drink alcohol) again. | (fig.) You've hardly touched your food — I hope you're not ill.* **| (fig.)** Those cars are very low quality; I wouldn't touch them. (=I would never buy one) $\rightarrow$ see also **BARGE POLE 4 [T usually in negatives]** to compare with; be equal to: *Your work will never touch the standard set by Robert. | When it comes to making speeches, there's no one to touch him. (=no one else is as good)* **5 [T]** to have an effect on the feelings of; cause to feel pity, sympathy etc: *His sad story so touched us that we nearly cried.* $\rightarrow$ see also TOUCHED, TOUCHING **6 [T(IN)]** to mark with light strokes; put in with a pencil or brush: *He drew her head, and quickly touched in the eyes, nose, and mouth.* $\rightarrow$ see also TOUCH UP **7 [T]** *fml* to concern: *a serious matter that touches your future* **8 touch bottom a)** to reach the bottom: *The boat almost touched bottom in the shallow channel.* **b)** to reach the lowest level: *After weeks of uncertainty, morale in the company has touched bottom.* **9 touch wood** *especially BrE* || **knock on wood** *AmE* — (used as if to keep away bad luck, so that something good may continue): *I've never been without a job, touch wood!* **---able** *adj*
