toothpick

toothpick — noun

1. A thin stick with a pointed tip, typically made of wood, that people slide betwe

1.nounB2
Definition

A thin stick with a pointed tip, typically made of wood, that people slide between their teeth to clear away leftover food after a meal.

Example

After the grilled fish, Hassan used a toothpick to remove food stuck between his teeth.

typical use: removing food after a meal

The restaurant placed a small glass of toothpicks next to the cash register for customers.

collocation: a glass of toothpicks

Common collocations
  • wooden toothpick
  • plastic toothpick
  • use a toothpick
  • a box of toothpicks
  • a glass of toothpicks
  • chew on a toothpick
Synonyms
  • cocktail stick

    a shorter, often decorative stick used to hold garnishes or appetizers together, rarely used for cleaning teeth

  • dental pick

    a specialised dental tool with a curved metal or plastic end, designed for professional or thorough cleaning between teeth

Grammar Patterns

toothpick

a toothpick

toothpicks

Usage Note

Although toothpicks are designed for cleaning teeth, they are also commonly used in cooking to hold small items of food together, such as sandwiches or appetizers.

Common Mistakes

I used a toothpick to clean my ear.
I used a toothpick to remove food from between my teeth.
Toothpicks are for teeth, not ears; using them in ears can be dangerous.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Toothpick is the general, everyday term for a thin pointed stick used to remove food from between teeth or to hold small foods together. A cocktail stick is a shorter, often more decorative stick used to spear olives, cherries, or pieces of cheese in drinks and appetisers — it is rarely used for teeth. A dental pick is a reusable tool with a fine metal or plastic tip designed for precise cleaning between teeth, often used with floss. For example: 'He picked up a toothpick after the steak dinner,' versus 'She used a cocktail stick to hand out the mini sandwiches,' versus 'The dentist recommended a silicone dental pick for sensitive gums.'

toothpick ↗cocktail stickdental pick

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • chew on a toothpick
  • pick at one's teeth with a toothpick
  • a box of toothpicks

Prepositions

  • of toothpicks

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Toothpick is a compound word formed from 'tooth' (from Old English 'tōþ', meaning the hard white structure in the mouth) and 'pick' (from Middle English 'pikken', meaning to pierce or clean with a pointed tool). The word has been used in its modern sense since the 15th century.