Toaster Meaning
/ˈtəʊ̯s.təː/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAn electrical device for toasting food, typically sliced bread.
nounA toasting fork.
Sentence Examples
I had to fix the toaster.
There is a one-year guarantee on this toaster.
Damn! This toaster tries to make a monkey out of me.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She put the bread slices into the ____ to make them hot and crunchy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I put the slices of bread into the ____ and waited for them to pop up so I could have my breakfast today.
Word Origin & History
From toast + -er (agent noun suffix) or -er (patient suffix).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"“Imagine this,” says an advertising consultant named Barry Lowenthal. “I’m a smart toaster, and I’m collecting data on how many times the toaster is used.” […] There are, of course, smart speakers (which roughly a quarter of American homes have) and smart thermostats, as well as smart thermometers, smart mattress covers, smart coffee makers, smart doorbells, and even, yes, smart toasters."
— 2018 December 18, Joe Pinsker, “The Coming Commodification of Life at Home”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 25 Jan 2019:
"[T]he tumult of the thousand different cries of the eager dealers, all shouting at the top of their voices, at one and the same time, is almost bewildering. […] "Come and look at 'em! here's toasters!" bellows one with a Yarmouth bloater stuck on a toasting-fork."
— 1851, Henry Mayhew, “The London Street Markets on a Saturday Night”, in London Labour and the London Poor; […], volume I (The London Street-folk. Book the First.), London: [George Woodfall], →OCLC, page 9, column 2:
"The renegade, you been afraid I penetrate pop culture / Bring 'em a lot closer to the block where they pop toasters"
— 2001, “Renegade”, in The Blueprint, performed by Jay-Z ft. Eminem:
"This attitude, and the sight of the blade which glistened by moonlight in his face, checked in some sort, the ardour of his assailant, who desired he would lay aside his toaster, and take a bout with him at equal arms."
— 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, chapter 27, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume I, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
"For most older computers (pre-486 and even some 486s), it's simply easier to throw them away and start over (and cheaper, too). I know; this probably goes against the grain; after all, you hung onto that old toaster for three years, and now it makes a darn good doorstop."
— 2000, Jennifer Fulton, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Alpha Books, →ISBN, page 15:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She put the bread slices into the ____ to make them hot and crunchy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I put the slices of bread into the ____ and waited for them to pop up so I could have my breakfast today.