toe-in
|toe-in|
🇺🇸
/ˈtoʊ.ɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˈtəʊ.ɪn/
toe pointing inward (angle)
Etymology
'toe-in' originates from English as a compound of 'toe' and 'in', specifically 'toe' (Old English 'tā'/'tāh') meaning 'the end of the foot' and 'in' (Old English 'in') meaning 'into' or 'toward the inside'.
'toe' changed from Old English 'tā'/'tāh' to Middle English 'to'/'toe' and eventually became modern English 'toe'; 'in' has been stable from Old English 'in' to modern 'in'. The compound 'toe-in' developed in technical usage (notably in vehicle and mechanical contexts) to describe inward angling.
Initially, 'toe' referred simply to the end of the foot; over time the compound 'toe-in' evolved from describing toes turned inward to a technical sense describing wheels or alignment angles that point inward.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the amount (angle) by which the front of a wheel or pair of wheels points inward toward the vehicle's centerline; an alignment setting in vehicles.
The mechanic measured the car's toe-in and adjusted it.
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Verb 1
to set or adjust the wheels so that their front edges point slightly inward.
Toe-in the front wheels slightly to reduce tire wear.
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Adjective 1
describing a wheel or vehicle alignment that exhibits toe-in.
The technician noted toe-in wear on the front tires.
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Last updated: 2025/12/31 13:22