I. toll 1 /təʊl $ toʊl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Sense 1-3: Language: Old English ]
[ Sense 4: Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ toll 2 ]
1 . [usually singular] the number of people killed or injured in a particular accident, by a particular illness etc:
The death toll has risen to 83.
The bombings took a heavy toll, killing hundreds of Londoners.
2 . a very bad effect that something has on something or someone over a long period of time
toll on
Years of smoking have taken their toll on his health.
a heavy toll on the environment
3 . the money you have to pay to use a particular road, bridge etc
4 . the sound of a large bell ringing slowly
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ cost the amount of money you need to buy or do something. Cost is usually used when talking in a general way about whether something is expensive or cheap rather than when talking about exact prices:
The cost of running a car is increasing.
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the cost of raw materials
▪ price the amount of money you must pay for something that is for sale:
They sell good-quality clothes at reasonable prices.
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the price of a plane ticket to New York
▪ value the amount of money that something is worth:
A new kitchen can increase the value of your home.
▪ charge the amount that you have to pay for a service or to use something:
Hotel guests may use the gym for a small charge.
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bank charges
▪ fee the amount you have to pay to enter a place or join a group, or for the services of a professional person such as a lawyer or a doctor:
There is no entrance fee.
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The membership fee is £125 a year.
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legal fees
▪ fare the amount you have to pay to travel somewhere by bus, plane, train etc:
I didn’t even have enough money for my bus fare.
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fare increases
▪ rent the amount you have to pay to live in or use a place that you do not own:
The rent on his apartment is $800 a month.
▪ rate a charge that is set according to a standard scale:
Most TV stations offer special rates to local advertisers.
▪ toll the amount you have to pay to travel on some roads or bridges:
You have to pay tolls on many French motorways.
II. toll 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: Probably from Old English -tyllan 'to pull' ]
if a large bell tolls, or if you toll it, it keeps ringing slowly, especially to show that someone has died