TOY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does toy mean? 

• TOY (noun)
  The noun TOY has 5 senses:

1. an artifact designed to be played with

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

3. a device regarded as providing amusement

4. a copy that reproduces a person or thing in greatly reduced size

5. any of several breeds of very small dogs kept purely as pets

  Familiarity information: TOY used as a noun is common.

• TOY (verb)
  The verb TOY has 3 senses:

1. behave carelessly or indifferently

2. manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination

3. engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously

  Familiarity information: TOY used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TOY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An artifact designed to be played with

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

plaything; toy

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

a toy stove

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

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

Sense 3

Meaning:

A device regarded as providing amusement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

private airplanes are a rich man's toy

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

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

miniature; toy

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

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

toy; toy dog

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"):

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)

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

• TOY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they toy    ... he / she / it toys   
Past simple: toyed   
Past participle: toyed   
-ing form: toying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Behave carelessly or indifferently

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

dally; flirt; play; toy

Context example:

Play about with a young girl's affection

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

diddle; fiddle; play; toy

Context example:

He played with the idea of running for the Senate

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:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

play; toy

Context example:

toy with an idea

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)

 Context examples 

I am to him no more than a toy, and he values me no more than a child values a toy.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Such a toy as it is! said Ham, thoughtfully looking on it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was more of a toy affair than anything else, yet it was the delight of Mit-sah, who felt that he was beginning to do a man's work in the world.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

You can also get infected by coming in contact with an object, such as a toy, that has bacteria on it.

(Diphtheria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Toy: 9-12 inches (23-30 cm) 6-10 pounds (2.4-4.5 kg) Miniature: over 12 (30 cm) up to 15 inches (38 cm) 10-20 pounds (4.5-9 kg) Standard: over 15 inches (38 cm) up to 19 inches (48 cm) 18-35 pounds (8-16 kg.)

(American Eskimo Dog, NCI Thesaurus)

It can also be found in clothing, kitchenware, furniture and toys.

(Common Ingredient in Toothpaste Puts Women at Risk of Bone Disease, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The researchers found that, compared to the typically developing children, the children with autism had higher skin conductance levels when reading silently, reading aloud, and in the group toy session.

(Animals’ presence may ease social anxiety in kids with autism, NIH)

"After all, your writing has been a toy to you," she was saying.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He dived his arm down to the bottom of the chest, and brought up a small wooden box with a sliding lid, such as children’s toys are kept in.

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

The study uses the popular French baby toy "Sophie the Giraffe" as an example.

(Study: Popularity of Wildlife Can Harm Public's Perception, VOA)