tot

¹ American  

[tot] / tɒt /

noun

1. a small child.

2. Chiefly British. a small portion of a beverage, especially a dram of liquor.

3. a small quantity of anything.

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tot ² American  

[tot] / tɒt /

verb (used with or without object)

totted, totting

1. to add; total (often followed byup ).

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noun

1. a total.

2. the act of adding.

3. British Informal. a column of numbers to be added.

tot. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. total.

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tot ¹ British  

/ tɒt /

noun

1. a young child; toddler

2. a small amount of anything

3. a small measure of spirits

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tot ² British  

/ tɒt /

verb

1. (usually foll by up) to total; add

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Other Word Forms

• untotted adjective

Etymology

Origin of tot¹

1680–90; perhaps short for totterer ( def. )

Origin of tot²

1745–55; < Latin: so much, so many

Explanation

A tot is a small child, like the tots at your little sister's nursery school. Tater tots, or little bitty potato puffs, are another kind of tot. The origin of the noun tot is a little unclear, although we know it first appeared in the 18th century. It was also common in the early 20th century to refer to children's playgrounds as tot lots. As a verb, tot is an old-fashioned way to say "add," a shortened form of total. So your waiter might say, "I'll be right back with your check as soon as I tot everything up!"

Example Sentences

The spending that was originally anticipated for the fourth quarter is pushed forward tot the first quarter of 2026.

From Barron's • Nov. 11, 2025

When you tot up the balance of alleged irreparable harms here, it isn’t even a close call.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2024

Writer tapped to read at inauguration was taken as a tot to hear King’s ‘Dream’ speech.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2024

The unforced errors continued to tot up from Murray and it helped Etcheverry, still playing at a high level, cruise to only his second win at Melbourne Park.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2024

Maybe the pink-faced kid was thirteen or fourteen, and the tot maybe three or four.

From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata