Library / English Dictionary

TOY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of several breeds of very small dogs kept purely as pets

Synonyms:

toy; toy dog

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("toy" is a kind of...):

Canis familiaris; dog; domestic dog (a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "toy"):

Chihuahua (an old breed of tiny short-haired dog with protruding eyes from Mexico held to antedate Aztec civilization)

Japanese spaniel (breed of toy dogs originating in Japan having a silky black-and-white or red-and-white coat)

Maltese; Maltese dog; Maltese terrier (breed of toy dogs having a long straight silky white coat)

Peke; Pekinese; Pekingese (a Chinese breed of small short-legged dogs with a long silky coat and broad flat muzzle)

Shih-Tzu (a Chinese breed of small dog similar to a Pekingese)

toy spaniel (a very small spaniel)

toy terrier (a small active dog)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A copy that reproduces a person or thing in greatly reduced size

Synonyms:

miniature; toy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("toy" is a kind of...):

copy (a thing made to be similar or identical to another thing)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An artifact designed to be played with

Synonyms:

plaything; toy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("toy" is a kind of...):

artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "toy"):

pinwheel; pinwheel wind collector (a toy consisting of vanes of colored paper or plastic that is pinned to a stick and spins when it is pointed into the wind)

playhouse; wendy house (plaything consisting of a small model of a house that children can play inside of)

pogo stick (plaything consisting of a pole with foot rests and a strong spring; propelled by jumping)

popgun (plaything consisting of a toy gun that makes a popping sound)

rattle (a baby's toy that makes percussive noises when shaken)

sandbox; sandpile; sandpit (a plaything consisting of a pile of sand or a box filled with sand for children to play in)

dandle board; seesaw; teeter; teeter-totter; teeterboard; teetertotter; tilting board (a plaything consisting of a board balanced on a fulcrum; the board is ridden up and down by children at either end)

playground slide; slide; sliding board (plaything consisting of a sloping chute down which children can slide)

catapult; sling; slingshot (a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones)

stick horse (a child's plaything consisting on an imitation horse's head on one end of a stick)

swing (mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth)

teddy; teddy bear (plaything consisting of a child's toy bear (usually plush and stuffed with soft materials))

spinning top; teetotum; top; whirligig (a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin)

train set (a toy consisting of small models of railroad trains and the track for them to run on)

squirt gun; squirter; water gun; water pistol (plaything consisting of a toy pistol that squirts water)

yo-yo (a toy consisting of a spool that is reeled up and down on a string by motions of the hand)

ball (a spherical object used as a plaything)

balloon (small thin inflatable rubber bag with narrow neck)

cockhorse (anything used as a toy horse (such as a rocking horse or one knee of an adult))

doll; dolly (a small replica of a person; used as a toy)

doll's house; dollhouse (a small model of a house used as a toy by children)

Frisbee (a light, plastic disk about 10 inches in diameter; propelled with a flip of the wrist for recreation or competition)

hobby; hobbyhorse; rocking horse (a child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride)

hula-hoop (plaything consisting of a tubular plastic hoop for swinging around the hips)

jack-in-the-box (plaything consisting of a toy clown that jumps out of a box when the lid is opened)

jungle gym (a structure of vertical and horizontal rods where children can climb and play)

jumping jack (plaything consisting of a toy figure with movable joints that can be made to dance by pulling strings)

kaleidoscope (an optical toy in a tube; it produces symmetrical patterns as bits of colored glass are reflected by mirrors)

kite (plaything consisting of a light frame covered with tissue paper; flown in wind at end of a string)

Lego; Lego set ((trademark) a child's plastic construction set for making mechanical models)

Meccano; Meccano set (a child's construction set for making mechanical models)

pea shooter (a straight narrow tube through which pellets (as dried peas) can be blown at a target)

pinata (plaything consisting of a container filled with toys and candy; suspended from a height for blindfolded children to break with sticks)

Derivation:

toy (engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A device regarded as providing amusement

Example:

private airplanes are a rich man's toy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("toy" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A nonfunctional replica of something else (frequently used as a modifier)

Example:

a toy stove

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("toy" is a kind of...):

replica; replication; reproduction (copy that is not the original; something that has been copied)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously

Example:

toy with an idea

Synonyms:

play; toy

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "toy" is one way to...):

act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

toy (an artifact designed to be played with)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination

Example:

He played with the idea of running for the Senate

Synonyms:

diddle; fiddle; play; toy

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "toy" is one way to...):

manipulate (hold something in one's hands and move it)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "toy"):

put out; retire (cause to be out on a fielding play)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Also:

toy with (take into consideration, have in view)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Behave carelessly or indifferently

Example:

Play about with a young girl's affection

Synonyms:

dally; flirt; play; toy

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "toy" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Verb group:

dally; play; trifle (consider not very seriously)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

toying (playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest)

Credits

 Context examples: 

If you already have a pet, don’t forget to buy your little creature new treats and toys.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The exposure included second-hand smoke from being around a smoking adult or third-hand smoke from residue on surfaces like toys, floors, or clothing.

(Infants, Toddlers at More Risk from Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke than Thought, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Missis intends you to leave Gateshead in a day or two, and you shall choose what toys you like to take with you.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“How is a man to take aim with these fool's toys, and how can he hope to do scath with them?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Surprisingly, we found no clear evidence of the impact of memory on the color appearance of toys, fruit or non-facial body skin.

(Rosy health and sickly green: color associations play robust role in reading faces, National Institutes of Health)

It was the toy which he had promised to bring home.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They can choke on foods like hot dogs, nuts and grapes, and on small objects like toy pieces and coins.

(Choking, NIH)

The Griffon is a sturdy toy dog of square proportions with a domed head, undershot jaw, and a very short nose.

(Brussels Griffon, NCI Thesaurus)

I longed to show them a tearing American gallop, for they trotted solemnly up and down, in their scant habits and high hats, looking like the women in a toy Noah's Ark.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Just look at plastic playground toys, park benches, or lawn chairs, which can rapidly become sun-bleached."

(Sunlight degrades polystyrene faster than expected, National Science Foundation)