From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtosstoss1 /tɒs $ tɒːs/ ●●○ verb 1 [transitive]THROW to throw something, especially something light, with a quick gentle movement of your handtoss something into/onto etc something She crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fire.toss something aside/over etc Toss that book over, will you?toss something to somebody ‘Catch!’ said Sandra, tossing her bag to him.toss somebody something Frank tossed her the newspaper.► see thesaurus at throw2 [intransitive, transitive]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION to move about continuously in a violent or uncontrolled way, or to make something do thistoss something around/about The small boat was tossed about like a cork.3 → toss and turn4 [intransitive, transitive] (also toss up) especially British EnglishTHROW to throw a coin in the air, so that a decision will be made according to the side that faces upwards when it comes down SYN flip American English They tossed a coin to decide who would go first.toss (somebody) for it We couldn’t make up our minds, so we decided to toss for it.5 [transitive]THROW to throw something up into the air and let it fall to the ground The crowd cheered, banging pots and tossing confetti into the air.6 → toss a pancake7 [transitive]DFC to move pieces of food about in a small amount of liquid so that they become covered with the liquid Toss the carrots in some butter before serving.8 → toss your head/hair → toss off → toss something/somebody ↔ out→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
toss• The fire was started when a passing motorist carelessly tossed a cigarette out of his car.• Many enjoy the convenience of popping an imitation burger in the microwave or tossing a tofu dog on the grill.• Therefore they are never perfectly at ease and may toss and turn in bed.• Finding none, she poured soda and salt into the crease of her folded hand and tossed both into the flour.• The kite was being tossed by the wind.• And the mare, as if finally understanding, begins to strain, tosses her head wildly, pulls at the reins.• He tossed her last week's edition of the "Herald".• More than 150 farmers and hauliers tossed ideas around.• She tossed it aside and renewed her efforts to contact Georgie and perhaps learn more about the murder.• The hot dog tasted funny, so I tossed it.• As I tossed the bag down the ladder well, the warrant stepped back.• Graham tossed the paperback on to the opposite couchette and made his way to the dining car.• Normally serene palms toss their woolly mop heads like distraught grieving women who can not take any more suffering.• Pour the marinade over the mushrooms and toss them lightly.• The dressing is great tossed with a salad of lettuce, broccoli florets, zucchini and yellow pepper slices.toss somebody something• Toss me a pillow.tossed ... coin• Torn between passing the letter to Alice or Amelia, Robert tossed a coin and settled on the latter.• Two girls passed by and tossed coins into his small plastic cup.• I tossed a coin with Bill Wall for this, and won.tosstoss2 noun [countable] 1 THROWthe act of throwing a coin in the air to decide something, especially who will do something first in a game The toss of a coin decided who would go first.win/lose the toss Malory won the toss and will serve.2 HBHa sudden backwards movement of your head, so that your hair moves, often showing anger ‘I’ll see, ’ the nurse said, with an officious toss of her head.3 THROWa gentle throw4 → not give a toss → argue the toss at argue(5)Examples from the Corpus
toss• George faked a toss to Kaufman, and ran in for a touchdown.• With a toss of her head, she walked out of the room.• I don't give - toss how long he's had to learn the part or how difficult it's been.• Gooch won an important toss, put West Indies in, and before long five wickets were down for 29.• And at Chelmsford Northants are batting after winning the toss against Essex.Origin toss1 (1500-1600) Probably from a Scandinavian language 