I. ˈtip|tō noun
Etymology: Middle English tiptoo, from tip, tippe tip + too toe — more at toe
: the tip or end of a toe ; collectively : the ends of the toes — usually used with reference to motion or posture on the balls of the toes
he paced over … and on tiptoes whispered into his ear — L.M.Uris
standing on tiptoe to see over the crowd
craves ideals high enough to give him the thrill of standing on tiptoe to reach them — J.H.Baker
•
- on tiptoe
II. adverb
: on or as if on tiptoe
using one hand to support himself … because he was standing tiptoe — Margaret Shedd
suddenly find yourself standing tiptoe and full of new breath — E.G.Anderson
day stands tiptoe on the misty mountaintops — Shakespeare
III. adjective
1. : standing or walking on or as if on tiptoe
approaching with tiptoe step
tiptoe touches of sportful elves — E.J.Banfield
2. : silent , cautious , stealthy
a stillness suggesting motion, what might be called a tiptoe effect — G.W.Knight
offered to guard me and was amusing with his modest tiptoe air — George Meredith
IV. intransitive verb
1. : to stand or raise oneself on tiptoe
great difficulty of seeing anything … even by tiptoeing and craning — Arnold Bennett
2. : to walk or proceed quietly or cautiously on or as if on tiptoe
tiptoeing extremely carefully past his door, they heard how restlessly he slept — Glenway Wescott
a cat tiptoed from the shadow of a fence — Glenn Scott
tiptoeing progressively deeper into the uncharted channels of educational TV — Delbert Clark