tiptoe

• tip-toe
• tippytoe, tippy-toe

tip +‎ toe

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtɪpˌtəʊ/, [ˈtʰɪpˌtʰəʊ̯]
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈtɪpˌtoʊ/, [ˈtʰɪpˌtʰoʊ̯]

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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• Rhymes: -ɪptəʊ

tiptoe (plural tiptoes)

1. (usually in the plural) The tip of the toe.

tiptoe (not comparable)

1. Standing elevated, on or as if on the tips of one's toes.
   • Shakespeare

     Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day / Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.

   • Byron

     above the tiptoe pinnacle of glory

2. Moving carefully, quietly, warily or stealthily, on or as if on the tips of one's toes.
   • Cowper

     with tiptoe step

tiptoe (third-person singular simple present tiptoes, present participle tiptoeing, simple past and past participle tiptoed)

1. To walk quietly with only the tips of the toes touching the ground. [from late 14th c.]
   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 13, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     We tiptoed into the house, up the stairs and along the hall into the room where the Professor had been spending so much of his time.

   • 1929, Al Dubin (lyrics), Joe Burke (music), “Tiptoe Through the Tulips”, performed by Nick Lucas:

     Tiptoe through the window / By the window, that is where I'll be / Come tiptoe through the tulips with me // Tiptoe from your pillow / To the shadow of the willow tree / And tiptoe through the tulips with me.

• tiptoe around

• Petito