Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of cooking food, especially bread, by exposing it to direct heat until it becomes brown and crisp: This is the primary culinary meaning, referring to the process of browning food through radiant heat.
   • The act of warming oneself or something by exposure to a fire or other heat source: This meaning refers to the process of heating for warmth rather than cooking.
   • The act of drinking in honor of or to the health of a person or thing: This is a social meaning, referring to the ritual of raising glasses and making a short speech before drinking.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Cooking):

  • The toasting of the marshmallows over the campfire took only a few minutes.
  • Proper toasting requires even heat to brown the bread without burning it.

• Noun (Warming):

  • They enjoyed a quiet evening of toasting by the fireplace.
  • The toasting of his cold hands by the stove was a great relief.

• Noun (Drinking honor):

  • The best man's toasting of the newlyweds was heartfelt and funny.
  • A round of toasting followed the announcement of the promotion.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in for a toasting": (idiomatic) To be in a situation where one is likely to be severely criticized or reprimanded.
  • If the boss finds out about the mistake, we're all in for a toasting.

Variants and Related Words

• Toast (noun): A slice of bread browned by toasting; the person or thing honored by a drinking toast.

  • I had buttered toast for breakfast.
  • She was the toast of the town after her performance.

• Toast (verb): To brown bread or other food by heat; to warm thoroughly; to propose or drink a toast.

  • Please toast the bread for the sandwiches.
  • Let's toast to our future success.

• Toaster (noun): An electrical appliance for toasting bread.

  • The toaster popped up two slices of toast.

Synonyms

• Browning (for cooking): The process of making something brown, especially by cooking.
• Roasting (for warming): Warming or heating thoroughly.
• Saluting (for drinking honor): Paying tribute or honor to someone, often with a gesture like raising a glass.

Related Phrases

• Propose a toast: To be the person who initiates the act of toasting by making a short speech.
  • The host stood up to propose a toast to the guests.

Related Idioms

• "As warm as toast": Very warm and cozy.
  • Sitting by the fire, I was as warm as toast.

Noun

1. cooking to a brown crispiness over a fire or on a grill
   • proper toasting should brown both sides of a piece of bread