toad

[ tohd ]

noun

1. any of various tailless amphibians that are close relatives of the frogs in the order Anura and that typically have dry, warty skin and are terrestrial or semiterrestrial in habit. Compare frog ¹( def 1 ).
2. Also called true toad. a toad of the widespread and chiefly terrestrial family Bufonidae, having relatively short hind legs used in hopping and often having at the shoulders swellings containing glands that, along with the skin, secrete an irritating fluid in defense. Compare frog ¹( def 2 ).
3. any of various toadlike animals, as certain lizards.
4. a person or thing as an object of disgust or aversion.

toad

/ təʊd /

noun

1. any anuran amphibian of the class Bufonidae, such as Bufo bufo ( common toad ) of Europe. They are similar to frogs but are more terrestrial, having a drier warty skin batrachian
2. any of various similar amphibians of different families
3. a loathsome person

Derived Forms

• ˈtoadish, adjective

Other Words From

• toadish toadlike adjective
• toadish·ness noun
• toadless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of toad¹

before 1000; Middle English tode, Old English tāde, tādi ( g ) e

Word History and Origins

Origin of toad¹

Old English tādige, of unknown origin; see tadpole

Example Sentences

Another possibility is the toads are smaller due to a dietary deficiency, or maybe the climate isn’t quite right for the toads to reach full size.

From Science News

Island toads were quite a bit smaller than the roughly 7-centimeter-long toads in Durban.

From Science News

Female toads measured on average about 34 percent shorter on Mauritius and 26 percent shorter on Réunion.

From Science News

Some snakes eat toads by politely swallowing the creatures whole.

From Science News

In 2018, he discovered bombardier beetles can force toads to vomit them back up.

From Science News For Students

In May, the head of Guerreros Unidos, Mario Casarrubias Salgado, aka the Beautiful Toad, was arrested.

From The Daily Beast

Not every estate owner was responsible; inheritance often entailed no more business sense than a Bertie Wooster or Mr. Toad.

From The Daily Beast

It is a combination of the words cesso (toilet) and rospo (toad).

From The Daily Beast

In the old days every great man kept a toad-eater; sometimes his functions were highly paid—Wolff's are, I fancy.

From Project Gutenberg

The thick torso of a man who squatted like a toad could be seen partly emerging from the shrubs.

From Project Gutenberg

Tressan was ugly as a toad, the most absurd, ridiculous bridegroom that ever led woman to the altar.

From Project Gutenberg

His face was, moreover, mottled with dusky spots, so that he reminded the spectator of a frog or a toad.

From Project Gutenberg

The venomous old toad made a supreme effort and whispered, "Suppose she should die?"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• frog