WordGarden.iotoothpick
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈuːθpɪk/
US
- /ˈtuθˌpɪk/
Meanings
Noun
a small pointed stick used to remove food from between the teeth
a small pointed stick used to spear or serve small pieces of food
Beyond the definition
A toothpick is not just something you use after a meal. It is a very small pointed stick, usually made of wood, that helps remove bits of food from between your teeth. It is also useful for holding small snacks together, such as olives, cheese cubes, or other party food. In that way, it works like a tiny skewer. People have used simple tools like twigs and bones for this purpose for a very long time.
Imagine you have just finished a meal, but a small piece of food is stuck between your teeth. That is where the humble toothpick comes in. It is a small, pointed stick, usually made of wood, though plastic and bamboo versions also exist. People use it to clean between their teeth after eating. While dental floss is often a better choice for regular dental care, a toothpick is still a convenient tool, especially when you are away from home.
But the story does not end there. Toothpicks are also often used to hold small foods together. You will often see them holding olives, cheese cubes, or cherry tomatoes at parties. Cooks also use them to check whether cakes and other baked goods are done. If the stick comes out clean, the food is usually ready.
Toothpicks also have a long history. For thousands of years, people used twigs, bones, and other simple objects to clean their teeth. The modern wooden version became more common in the 19th century, when factories could make them in large numbers.
So, whether you are cleaning your teeth after a meal or serving small snacks at a party, a toothpick is a simple but useful tool. It is a small object with more than one job, and that is part of what makes it so familiar in everyday life.
Examples
- 1
After a meal
He took a toothpick after the meal.
- 2
Restaurant counter
There was a small cup of toothpicks by the cash register.
- 3
Baking test
Stick a toothpick into the middle of the cake to see if it's done.
- Phraseto see if it's done
to check whether the cake is fully baked
See also
Similar
- dental pick
- interdental pick
Shades of meaning
- cocktail stick
Contrast
- dental floss
- skewer
Used with (collocations)
- wooden toothpick
- toothpick holder
- pick your teeth with a toothpick
- sandwiches held with toothpicks
Explore
- oral hygiene
- disposable utensil
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- toothpicknoun
Forms
- toothpickspluralnoun