toot

Everyday

1. To toot is to make a short, high sound with a horn or whistle. tree →
2. A toot is one such short sound. tree →
3. «Toot your own horn» (US) means to boast about yourself (UK: «blow your own trumpet»). tree →
4. (informal, child talk) Toot can mean to pass wind (fart) — a jokey, polite word. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life cars, trains and boats toot their horns. In road safety, drivers toot to warn others. In stories a train «toots» as it leaves. Children use «toot» as a silly, polite word for passing wind. Phrases: «toot the horn», «toot-toot».

Examples

• The train tooted as it left the station. tree →
• Dad gave a little toot of the horn to say goodbye. tree →
• The boat tooted twice. tree →
• «Toot toot!» went the toy train. tree →
• The driver tooted to warn the cyclist. tree →
• Stop tooting your own horn and let others talk. tree →
• My little brother giggled and said someone tooted. tree →

Note

Past: tooted. A toot is short and light; a «honk» is louder. The wind meaning is childish slang, fine at home but not in formal writing.