toss

verb

• 1 [with object and adverbial of direction] throw (something) somewhere lightly or casually:Suzy tossed her bag on to the sofa [with two objects]:she tossed me a box of matches
• [with object] (of a horse) throw (a rider) off its back.
• [with object] throw (a coin) into the air in order to make a decision between two alternatives, based on which side of the coin faces uppermost when it lands:we could just toss a coin [no object]:he tossed up between courgettes and tomatoes and courgettes won
• [with object] settle a matter with (someone) by tossing a coin:I’ll toss you for it

• 2move or cause to move from side to side or back and forth: [no object]:the trees tossed in the wind [with object]:the yachts were tossed around like toys in the harbour (as adjective, in combination -tossed)a storm-tossed sea
• [with object] jerk (one’s head or hair) sharply backwards: Paula pursed her lips and tossed her head she stood up, tossing her hair out of her eyes
• [with object] shake or turn (food) in a liquid, so as to coat it lightly:toss the pasta in the sauce

• 3 [with object] North American informal search (a place): I could demand her keys and toss her office

noun

• an act or instance of tossing something:a defiant toss of her head the toss of a coin
• (the toss) the action of tossing a coin as a method of deciding which team has the right to make a particular decision at the beginning of a game:Somerset won the toss and chose to bat