tossing

English

Verb

tossing

1. present participle and gerund of toss

Noun

tossing (plural tossings)

1. The motion of something that tosses; a throwing or sudden rising and falling.
   • 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 48, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:

     Starbuck himself was seen coolly and adroitly balancing himself to the jerking tossings of his chip of a craft.

2. (mining) The process of washing ores by violent agitation in water, in order to separate the lighter or earthy particles; tozing.
   • 1778, William Pryce, Mineralogia Cornubiensis: A Treatise on Minerals, Mines, and Mining […] :

     If it is necessary buddle the Tin over again , after it is sifted ( which is the best method for cleansing most sorts of Tin , for there may lie a rough waste , that will not come off by tossing and packing ) then buddle it over again

3. A process for refining tin by dropping it through the air while melted.

Derived terms

• dwarf tossing
• fox tossing
• midget tossing
• salad tossing
• shoe tossing

 

Adjective

tossing (not comparable)

1. (vulgar, colloquial) Used to disparage or curse someone or something.

   I can't get this tossing program to work.