Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - toss

~1 v 1 »THROW« to throw something, especially something light, with a quick gentle movement of your hand  (toss sth into/down/out of etc)  (Toss that book over here, will you? | toss sth to sb)  ("Catch!" said Sandra, tossing her bag to him. | toss sb sth)  (Frank tossed her the newspaper.) 2 »MOVE« to move and turn around continuously in a violent or uncontrolled way, or make something do this  (toss sth about/around)  (Our small boat was tossed about like a cork. | toss and turn (=keep changing your position in bed because you cannot sleep))  (I've been tossing and turning all night.) 3 »THROW A FLAT OBJECT« BrE to throw a flat object upwards so that it turns over in the air before it falls again; flip1 (2) AmE  (tossing pancakes on Pancake Day) 4 »A COIN« also toss up especially BrE to make a coin go upwards and spin in the air, as a way of deciding something; flip1 (2) AmE  (They tossed a coin to decide who would go first. | toss (up) for it)  (Well we can't make up our minds; we'll just have to toss for it.) 5 »IN COOKING« to cover food in a liquid by shaking it around in the liquid  (Toss the carrots in some butter before serving.) 6 toss your head to move your head back suddenly, often with a shaking movement showing anger  (He tossed his head angrily and left the room.) 7 toss your cookies AmE spoken to vomit1 toss off phr v 1 T toss something off) to produce something quickly and without much effort  (one of those painters who can toss off a couple of pictures before breakfast) 2 T toss something off) old-fashioned to drink something quickly  (He tossed off a few whiskies.) 3 T toss someone off) BrE taboo to masturbate ~2 n 1 the act of throwing a coin in the air to decide something  (The toss of a coin decided who would serve first.) 2 a sudden backwards movement of your head, so that your hair moves  ("I'll see," the nurse said, with an officious toss of her head.) 3 win/lose the toss especially BrE to win or lose the right to make a choice at the beginning of a game or race, according to the result of tossing a coin 4 the act of gently throwing something  (Will distracted me and I missed the toss.) 5 not give a toss BrE spoken to not care about something at all  (I really couldn't give a toss what Dermot thinks.)  (- see also argue the toss argue (5))