Definition

1. Noun:

   • A single slow, resonant sound of a bell: The sound made when a large bell is struck, often with a solemn or mournful quality.
   • A charge or fee paid for the use of a road, bridge, or other facility: A payment required to use a particular piece of infrastructure, often used for its maintenance.
   • The cost, damage, or loss resulting from something: The negative consequence or price, often in human or abstract terms, of an event or action.

2. Verb:

   • To ring a bell slowly and repeatedly: To cause a bell to sound with slow, measured strokes.
   • To charge a fee for using a road or bridge: To levy a payment for passage.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Sound of a bell):

  • The toll of the funeral bell echoed across the valley.
  • We could hear the toll of the cathedral clock marking the hour.

• Noun (Fee):

  • You must pay a toll to cross this bridge.
  • The highway toll has increased this year.

• Noun (Cost/Loss):

  • The war took a heavy toll on the civilian population.
  • The emotional toll of the job was very high.

• Verb (To ring a bell):

  • The bells began to toll at midnight.
  • The sexton tolled the bell for the deceased.

• Verb (To charge a fee):

  • This new road will toll all commercial vehicles.

Advanced Usage

• "to take its toll": To have a cumulative damaging or weakening effect over time.
  • Years of stress finally took its toll on his health.
• "to toll for someone/something": To ring a bell, especially as a signal of death or mourning.
  • The church bell tolled for the victims of the disaster.

Variants and Related Words

• Tollbooth/Toll gate (n): A booth or barrier where a toll is paid.
• Toll-free (adj): A call or service for which no charge is made to the caller.
• Tollway/Toll road (n): A road on which a toll is charged.

Synonyms

• Noun (Sound): Knell, chime, peal.
• Noun (Fee): Charge, fee, levy, tariff.
• Noun (Cost): Price, cost, penalty, consequence.
• Verb (Ring): Chime, ring, sound, knell.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Phrases

• Toll on/upon (archaic): To announce or signal by tolling a bell.
  • The great bell tolled on the hour.

Related Idioms

• "For whom the bell tolls": A phrase meaning that the death of anyone affects everyone; it is a reminder of our shared humanity and mortality. (From a sermon by John Donne).
  • When you hear news of a tragedy far away, remember: for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.

Noun

1. the sound of a bell being struck
   • saved by the bell
   • she heard the distant toll of church bells
2. value measured by what must be given or done or undergone to obtain something
   • the cost in human life was enormous
   • the price of success is hard work
   • what price glory?
3. a fee levied for the use of roads or bridges (used for maintenance)

Verb

1. charge a fee for using
   • Toll the bridges into New York City
2. ring slowly
   • For whom the bell tolls