toad

noun

1
: any of numerous anuran amphibians (especially family Bufonidae) that are distinguished from the related frogs by being more terrestrial in habit though returning to water to lay their eggs, by having a build that is squatter and shorter with weaker and shorter hind limbs, and by having skin that is rough, dry, and warty rather than smooth and moist
2
: a contemptible person or thing

Illustration of toad

Illustration of toad
  • toad 1

Examples of toad in a Sentence

He's such a mean little toad. that miserable toad is lucky to have even a single friend
Recent Examples on the Web While their slimy coatings deter some would-be-predators, raccoons, opossums, snakes, moles, toads, shrews, turtles, ground beetles, and birds, such as ducks, starlings, and thrushes, devour them with gusto. Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 29 Feb. 2024 However, at the time, its discoverers mistakenly thought the frog was a toad, hence its name. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 The smallest individual male flea toad measured in the study was 6.45 millimeters long. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 The toads in western Ecuador sounded different and had distinct physical features, the study said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024 Emily Alpert Reyes | (TNS) Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES — At the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, scientists are eager to explore whether a psychedelic chemical found in a toad could help people whose depression has not eased with typical treatments. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024 The recipe is straightforward: stuff a desiccated toad into a potato-sized rock and add a story. Daniel T. Ksepka, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2023 The Fish and Wildlife Service is also reviewing the status of the Railroad Valley toad, which is one of the smallest of the western toad species. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2024 Many of the state’s 27 native toads and frogs hunker down in frigid weather, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tode, from Old English tāde, tādige

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of toad was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near toad

Cite this Entry

“Toad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toad. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

toad

noun
: any of numerous tailless leaping amphibians that lay their eggs in water and are distinguished from the related frogs by living on land more often, by having a build that is shorter and thicker with weaker and shorter hind limbs, and by having skin that is rough, dry and warty rather than smooth and moist

More from Merriam-Webster on toad

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