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tread on someone's toes

 - 4 dictionary results

toe

  [toh] ,noun, verb, toed, toe⋅ing.
Use tread on someone's toes in a Sentence
–noun
1. one of the terminal digits of the human foot.
2. an analogous part in certain animals.
3. the forepart of the foot or hoof of a horse or the like.
4. the forepart of anything worn on the foot, as of a shoe or stocking.
5. a part resembling a toe in shape or position.
6. Railroads. the end of a frog in front of the point and in the direction of the switch.
7. Machinery.
a. a journal or part placed vertically in a bearing, as the lower end of a vertical shaft.
b. a curved partial cam lifting the flat surface of a follower and letting it drop; wiper.
8. Golf. the outer end of the head of a club.
–verb (used with object)
9. to furnish with a toe or toes.
10. to touch or reach with the toes: The pitcher toed the mound, wound up, and threw a fastball.
11. to kick with the toe.
12. Golf. to strike (the ball) with the toe of the club.
13. Carpentry.
a. to drive (a nail) obliquely.
b. to toenail.
–verb (used without object)
14. to stand, walk, etc., with the toes in a specified position: to toe in.
15. to tap with the toe, as in dancing.
—Idioms
16. on one's toes, energetic; alert; ready: The spirited competition kept them on their toes.
17. step or tread on (someone's) toes, to offend (a person); encroach on the territory or sphere of responsibility of (another): The new employee stepped on a lot of toes when he suggested reorganizing the office.
18. toe the line. line 1 (def. 82).
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE tā; c. D teen, G Zehe, ON tā

Related forms:
toeless, adjective
toelike, adjective

tread

  [tred] ,verb, trod, trod⋅den or trod, tread⋅ing, noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to set down the foot or feet in walking; step; walk.
2. to step, walk, or trample so as to press, crush, or injure something (usually fol. by on or upon): to tread on a person's foot.
3. (of a male bird) to copulate.
–verb (used with object)
4. to step or walk on, about, in, or along.
5. to trample or crush underfoot.
6. to form by the action of walking or trampling: to tread a path.
7. to treat with disdainful harshness or cruelty; crush; oppress.
8. to perform by walking or dancing: to tread a measure.
9. (of a male bird) to copulate with (a female bird).
–noun
10. the action of treading, stepping, or walking.
11. the sound of footsteps.
12. manner of treading or walking.
13. a single step as in walking.
14. any of various things or parts on which a person or thing treads, stands, or moves.
15. the part of the under surface of the foot or of a shoe that touches the ground.
16. the horizontal upper surface of a step in a stair, on which the foot is placed.
17. the part of a wheel, tire, or runner that bears on the road, rail, etc.
18. the pattern raised on or cut into the face of a rubber tire.
19. caterpillar tread.
20. Railroads. that part of a rail in contact with the treads of wheels.
—Idioms
21. tread on someone's toes or corns, to offend or irritate someone.
22. tread the boards, to act on the stage, esp. professionally: He recalled the days when he had trod the boards.
23. tread water,
a. Swimming. to maintain the body erect in the water with the head above the surface usually by a pumping up-and-down movement of the legs and sometimes the arms.
b. Slang. to make efforts that maintain but do not further one's status, progress, or performance: He's just treading water here until he can find another job.
Origin:
bef. 900; (v.) ME treden, OE tredan; c. OFris treda, OS tredan, D treden, G treten; akin to ON trotha, Goth trudan; (n.) ME tred footprint, deriv. of the v.

Related forms:
treader, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: toe
Pronunciation: 'tO
Function: noun
: one of the terminal members of a vertebrate's foot
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

toe (tō)
n.
Any of the digits of a foot.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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