Toll
/toʊl/
nounverbB2
Definition
As a noun, "toll" means a price or cost that someone pays, either money for using something like a road (a toll fee) or the amount of harm or loss caused by an event, such as the number of people who died or were hurt. As a verb, "to toll" means to cause loss, damage, or suffering, often gradually over time.
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See It in Action
Noun: A fee or money paid for using a road, bridge, or service
- •We paid a toll to cross the bridge.
- •The highway toll is five dollars.
- •Drivers slowed down when they reached the toll booth.
Noun: The number of deaths, injuries, or damage caused by an event
- •The earthquake's death toll was over 1000 people.
- •The war took a heavy toll on the country's economy.
- •The disease has a high toll on the elderly.
Verb: To cause loss, damage, or suffering over time
- •Years of hard work took a toll on his health.
- •The constant stress tolled her energy.
- •The long journey tolled the travelers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "toll" like "cost" (A1 word), but it can be money you pay or damage/loss you suffer
- ✓Picture a small booth on a highway where you stop to pay money to continue driving
- ✓It's the feeling when something bad slowly makes you tired or weak, like a hard day taking a toll on your energy
- ✓Sounds like "toll" → imagine a big bell ringing slowly, marking time and the cost of something happening
- ✓Remember the phrase "take its toll," meaning something causes damage or loss bit by bit, like a slow storm wearing down a building
- ✓NOT like "price" (which is only money), "toll" can mean money or a number of people hurt or lost
- ✓NOT like "damage" (which is physical only), "toll" includes emotional or health effects too
- ✓NOT like "fee" (which is only money), "toll" also means loss or harm
Try Other Words
- •Fee: money paid for a service (Use when only talking about money paid, not damage or loss)
- •Price: the amount of money needed to buy something (Use for general money cost, not damage or loss)
- •Damage: physical harm or injury (Use when focusing on physical harm, not money or number of deaths)
- •Loss: when something is lost or taken away (Use when focusing on what is lost, especially in emotional or health contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: The word "toll" is a single root word without prefixes or suffixes.
- •Etymology: Comes from Old English "toll" meaning a tax or payment for passage.
- •Historical development: Originally meant a tax or payment for using roads or bridges; later expanded to mean damage or loss caused by events.
- •Modern usage: Used both for money paid for road use and for describing harm, loss, or damage caused by events or situations.
Reflect & Connect
•How does the idea of "toll" help us understand the costs of everyday actions or big events in life?
•Can something have a toll without any money involved? What examples can you think of?
Fill in the blanks
1.The earthquake's toll was ___ people injured and many buildings destroyed.
2.Drivers must pay a toll ___ the highway to keep the roads in good condition.
3.Years of working without rest can take a toll ___ your health and happiness.
4.Unlike a simple price, a toll can mean both money and ___ caused by an event.
5.The long illness tolled her energy, making her feel ___ every day.
6.The toll booth collects money from drivers to ___ the cost of road repairs.
7.When we say "take its toll," we mean something causes ___ gradually over time.