toss / tôs; täs/ • v. 1. [tr.] throw (something) somewhere lightly, easily, or casually: Suzy tossed her bag onto the sofa | she tossed me a box of matches. ∎  [tr.] (of a horse) throw (a rider) off its back. ∎  [tr.] throw (a coin) into the air in order to make a decision between two alternatives, based on which side of the coin faces up when it lands: we could just toss a coin. ∎  [tr.] settle a matter with (someone) by doing this: I'll toss you for it. ∎  move or cause to move from side to side or back and forth: [intr.] the tops of the olive trees swayed and tossed | [tr.] the yachts were tossed around in the harbor like toys | [as adj. in comb.] (-tossed) a storm-tossed sea. ∎  [tr.] jerk (one's head or hair) sharply backward: Paula pursed her lips and tossed her head. ∎  [tr.] shake or turn (food) in a liquid, so as to coat it lightly: toss the pasta in the sauce.2. [tr.] inf. search (a place): I could demand her keys and toss her office.• n. an action or instance of tossing something: a defiant toss of her head the toss of a coin. ∎  (the toss) the action of tossing a coin as a method of deciding which team has the right to make a particular decision at the beginning of a game: we'd win the toss and keep the ball.PHRASES: toss one's cookies inf. vomit.tossing the cabersee caber.PHRASAL VERBS: toss something off1. drink something rapidly or all at once: Roger tossed off a full glass of Sauternes.2. produce something rapidly or without thought or effort: some of the best letters are tossed off in a burst of inspiration.DERIVATIVES: toss·er n.

toss throw or pitch about (in earliest use freq. of the sea). XVI. of unkn. orig.