toll
Translation
toll, charge, fee, death toll
Examples
We paid the toll to cross the bridge.
We paid the toll to cross the bridge.
The storm took a heavy toll on the town.
The storm took a heavy toll on the town.
We heard the slow toll of the funeral bell.
We heard the slow toll of the funeral bell.
Grammar Patterns
((a/the)) toll ((on sth./sb.)) a negative effect on something/somebody The long hours took their toll on him.
((a/the)) toll ((for sth.)) a fee for something There is a toll for using the highway.
Similar Words
Synonyms: fee, charge, cost; damage, loss, casualties
Etymology
From Old English 'toll' (tax, tribute), from Late Latin 'toloneum' (custom house). The bell sense is from a different root.
Memory Tips
Imagine you have to pay a 'toll' to a 'tall' gatekeeper on a bridge. For the other meaning, think of the 'total' cost of a disaster.