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Glite Dictionary
toe box

toe box

1 6.4
The front part of a shoe that covers and protects the toes
  • noun
  • /toʊ bɑks/
translation icon : puntera
  • What they've added: asymmetrical lacing that follows the shape of your foot, a wide toe box to allow your digits full contact for propelling you forward, and extremely high-quality materials.
  • a roomy toe box
  • a wide toe box
  • a narrow toe box

Examples

  • As for the boots I like, Danner is well made, but could do with a little more width around the toe box.

    Blog text (32)

  • The two most significant suggestions were the ability to allow the shoemaker to form a toe box around a modified foot image and the ability to compare the final last with the original foot (memory limitations of the TAAC precluded more than one foot image on the screen at any one time).

    Academic text (1991)

  • They have a nice wide toe box that suits my old, tired feet.

    Blog text (32)

  • Antebellum boots had no toe boxes inserted like modern Western boots do.

    Blog text (27)

  • The sneaker comes in a grey suede upper, which looks classy enough with the perforated leather detailing on the toe box, the ankle, and the lower side panel.

    Blog text (14)

  • The shoe's toe box was designed to give extra room for comfort during long walks.

  • A wide toe box can help prevent discomfort for people with broader feet.

  • Choosing shoes with a spacious toe box can reduce the risk of blisters and other foot problems.

Synonyms

toe
vstoe box
49 1.0

The front part of a shoe that covers and protects the toes

is the full enclosed front section that entirely surrounds the foot tip
toecap
vstoe box
5.7

A hard cover at the front of a shoe or boot that protects the toes

is the integral front section that forms an enclosed space for the foot tip

How Securing

toepiece
1 7.3
toecap
5.7
toe box
1 6.4
toe
49 1.0

Surface Forms

toe box singular
toe boxes plural

Morphology

toe + box

The meaning is directly and compositional: 'toe' indicates the body part/area and 'box' denotes a container or enclosed space, so a learner can infer 'a box/compartment for the toes' (the front part of a shoe). This noun + noun compounding pattern is common and cross-linguistically regular, making the expression immediately understandable to a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The compound noun toe box comes from the simple image of a small box at the front of a shoe where the toes sit. So toe box means the front part of a shoe that 'covers and protects' the toes.