toothpick

Everyday

1. A toothpick is a small thin stick of wood or plastic with a point, used to remove bits of food from between your teeth. tree →
2. Toothpicks are also used to hold small pieces of food together or to test whether a cake is cooked. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life toothpicks hold sandwiches and party snacks together, and a cook pokes a toothpick into a cake: if it comes out clean, the cake is ready. In school, toothpicks and clay or marshmallows are used to build shapes like cubes and pyramids, and to count. Safety: they are sharp, so do not put them in ears or leave them for small children. Phrases: «stick a toothpick in», «toothpick bridge».

Examples

• Mum pushed a toothpick into the cake to see if it was done. tree →
• Each mini sandwich had a toothpick through the middle. tree →
• We built a cube from toothpicks and marshmallows. tree →
• A cube needs twelve toothpicks, one for each edge. tree →
• Grandpa used a toothpick after dinner. tree →
• Keep toothpicks away from the baby. tree →
• Our class made a bridge out of toothpicks and glue. tree →

Note

Countable noun, plural toothpicks; one word. In maths building tasks, count toothpicks as edges and marshmallows as vertices (corners). Using a toothpick at the table can seem impolite in some places.