Definition

1. Noun:

   • The tip of a toe: The very end part of a toe, particularly when used for walking quietly.

2. Verb:

   • To walk on one's toes: To walk very quietly or carefully by putting one's weight on the balls of the feet and the tips of the toes, with the heels raised off the ground.

3. Adverb:

   • On tiptoe or as if on tiptoe: In a manner characterized by walking on the tips of the toes; very quietly and carefully.

4. Adjective:

   • Walking on the tips of one's toes so as to make no noise: Describing a quiet, stealthy manner of walking.
   • Moving with tiptoe steps: Characterized by cautious, light steps.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She balanced on the tiptoes of her left foot.
• Verb:
  • He had to tiptoe past the baby's room to avoid waking her.
• Adverb:
  • She walked tiptoe across the creaky wooden floor.
• Adjective:
  • They made a tiptoe approach to the deer, hoping to get a closer look.

Advanced Usage

• "on tiptoe" (adverbial phrase): In a position or manner of standing or walking on the tips of the toes.
  • The child stood on tiptoe to see over the fence.
• "on the tiptoe of expectation" (idiomatic): In a state of eager anticipation or suspense.
  • The audience was on the tiptoe of expectation for the final announcement.

Variants and Related Words

• Tiptoed (verb, past tense): The simple past tense and past participle of 'tiptoe'.
  • She tiptoed out of the library.

Synonyms

• Creep: To move slowly and quietly, often with the body close to the ground.
• Pussyfoot: To move stealthily or cautiously.
• Sneak: To go or move in a quiet, stealthy way.

Related Phrases

• Walk on eggshells (idiom): To be extremely cautious in one's actions or words around someone.
  • After the argument, he felt he had to walk on eggshells around his boss. (Note: This idiom conveys a similar sense of caution but is not directly related to physical movement.)

Adjective

1. walking on the tips of ones's toes so as to make no noise
   • moving with tiptoe steps

Adverb

1. on tiptoe or as if on tiptoe
   • standing tiptoe

Noun

1. the tip of a toe

Verb

1. walk on one's toes