toaster
Part of speech: noun
Morphological type: derivation
Topics: automotive
computing
engineering
entertainment
lifestyle
mathematics
music
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
rail-transport
railways
sciences
transport
vehicles
Etymology: From toast + -er (agent noun suffix) or -er (patient suffix).
Base: toast
Affixes: -er
Inflected forms:
form: toasters
pos: noun
tags: plural
Senses:
gloss: An electrical device for toasting food, typically sliced bread.
pos: noun
examples: “Imagine this,” says an advertising consultant named Barry Lowenthal. “I’m a smart toaster, and I’m collecting data on how many times the toaster is used.” […] There are, of course, smart speakers (which roughly a quarter of American homes have) and smart thermostats, as well as smart thermometers, smart mattress covers, smart coffee makers, smart doorbells, and even, yes, smart toasters.
gloss: A toasting fork.
pos: noun
gloss: A fish ready for toasting.
pos: noun
tags: archaic
examples: [T]he tumult of the thousand different cries of the eager dealers, all shouting at the top of their voices, at one and the same time, is almost bewildering. […] "Come and look at 'em! here's toasters!" bellows one with a Yarmouth bloater stuck on a toasting-fork.
gloss: One who toasts (cooks lightly by browning).
pos: noun
gloss: One who toasts (engages in salute while drinking alcohol).
pos: noun
gloss: A firearm, especially a pistol.
pos: noun
tags: US
slang
examples: The renegade, you been afraid I penetrate pop culture / Bring 'em a lot closer to the block where they pop toasters
gloss: A rapier or similar weapon.
pos: noun
tags: archaic
humorous
examples: This attitude, and the sight of the blade which glistened by moonlight in his face, checked in some sort, the ardour of his assailant, who desired he would lay aside his toaster, and take a bout with him at equal arms.
gloss: Any of several small, box-like automobiles exemplified by the Scion xB and Honda Element.
pos: noun
tags: derogatory
informal
gloss: An electronic organ, especially a crude one that uses analog technology.
pos: noun
tags: derogatory
informal
gloss: A low-end or outdated personal computer.
pos: noun
tags: humorous
examples: For most older computers (pre-486 and even some 486s), it's simply easier to throw them away and start over (and cheaper, too). I know; this probably goes against the grain; after all, you hung onto that old toaster for three years, and now it makes a darn good doorstop.
On the technical side, we had only the old “toaster” Macintosh computers as our environment (only black and white and 512 by 480 screen resolution) and a variety of IBM PCs or equivalents.
gloss: A protogen.
pos: noun
tags: endearing
slang
gloss: A self-contained software package distributable over the Internet or by burning onto CDs.
pos: noun
tags: slang
uncommon
examples: The Freedom Toaster was developed with backing from Mark Shuttleworth as a vending-machine-style dispenser of free digital products, including Ubuntu Linux.
gloss: A disc jockey who accompanies reggae music with improvised rhythmic speech.
pos: noun
gloss: Diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation known for a propensity to catch fire, especially those showing previous fire damage.
pos: noun
tags: US
derogatory
informal
examples: No. 4020 shows off the aftereffects of the GE “toaster” phenomenon as it runs on the Joint Line north of the Air Force Academy (7/02/2023).
Railfans often call GE Dash-9s as "toasters" which certainly applies to this locomotive.
IIRC, it's usually a toaster (GE).
gloss: An EMD AEM-7 electric locomotive
pos: noun
tags: US
informal
examples: The origin of the design led railroaders to dub the units “meatballs,” and its boxy appearance inspired railfans to call them “toasters.”
Sometimes affectionately referred to as “toasters” and “Swedish meatballs” due to their compact, boxy design and Swedish origins, the AEM-7s first entered service in May 1980 and since then have traveled more than 220 million miles.
Related words: toast
toasted
tea and toaster
Derived words: toasterless
toasterlike
toaster oven
Translations: