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Foot vs. Toe — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
A Foot is the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, while a Toe is one of the digits on a foot.
Foot vs. Toe — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Foot and Toe

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Key Differences

The Foot is a complex anatomical structure that supports our body weight and allows for mobility, whereas the Toe refers to any of the five digits located at the front of the foot.
A human Foot comprises bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles that enable walking and balance; the Toe, on the other hand, aids in balance, especially when standing and walking.
In many animals, the Foot adapts to various modes of life, from running to swimming, while the Toe can vary in number and shape depending on the species and its evolutionary adaptations.
While the Foot contains the arch, heel, and ball, the Toe is comprised of several phalanges with the big toe playing a pivotal role in propulsion during walking.

Comparison Chart

Definition

Lower part of the leg beneath the ankle
Digits of the foot
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Components

Heel, arch, ball
Phalanges

Function

Supports weight, enables walking
Provides balance, aids in walking

Injuries

Sprains, fractures, plantar fasciitis
Toe sprains, bunions

Adaptations in animals

Vary for swimming, digging, or climbing
Vary in number and shape

Compare with Definitions

Foot

The end part of a person's leg below the ankle.
He hurt his foot while playing soccer.

Toe

To touch or push with the toes.
He toed the ball into the net.

Foot

The base or bottom of something.
The foot of the mountain is densely forested.

Toe

To stand, walk, or be placed so that the toes assume a particular position.
Toe the line or face the consequences.

Foot

A supporting part of an object.
The piano's foot needs a repair.

Toe

Toes are the digits (fingers) of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being digitigrade.

Foot

The foot (plural: feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion.

Toe

One of the digits of a vertebrate foot.

Foot

The lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person stands or walks.

Toe

The forepart of a foot or hoof.

Foot

A projecting part on which a piece of furniture or each of its legs stands.

Toe

The terminal segment of an invertebrate's limb.

Foot

The lower or lowest part of something; the base or bottom
Complete the form at the foot of the page
The foot of the stairs

Toe

The part of a sock, shoe, or boot that covers the digits of the foot.

Foot

A unit of linear measure equal to 12 inches (30.48 cm)
He's about six feet tall
Shallow water no more than a foot deep

Toe

The part of the head of a golf club farthest from the shaft.

Foot

A group of syllables constituting a metrical unit. In English poetry it consists of stressed and unstressed syllables, while in ancient classical poetry it consists of long and short syllables.

Toe

The part of a vertical shaft that turns in a bearing.

Foot

Cover a distance, especially a long one, on foot
The rider was left to foot it ten or twelve miles back to camp

Toe

The lowest part of an embankment or dam.

Foot

The lower extremity of the vertebrate leg that is in direct contact with the ground in standing or walking.

Toe

(Geology)A protruding downslope end of an alluvial fan, glacier, or lava flow.

Foot

A structure used for locomotion or attachment in an invertebrate animal, such as the muscular organ extending from the ventral side of a mollusk.

Toe

To touch, kick, or reach with the toe.

Foot

The lowest part; the bottom:the foot of a mountain; the foot of a page.

Toe

To drive (a golf ball) with the toe of the club.

Foot

The end opposite the head, top, or front:the foot of a bed; the foot of a parade.

Toe

To set or adjust at an oblique angle. Used with in or out.

Foot

The termination of the leg of a piece of furniture, especially when shaped or modeled.

Toe

To drive (a nail or spike) at an oblique angle.

Foot

The part of a sewing machine that holds down and guides the cloth.

Toe

To fasten or secure with obliquely driven nails or spikes.

Foot

(Nautical)The lower edge of a sail.

Toe

To stand, walk, move, or be formed with the toes pointed in a specified direction
He toes out.

Foot

(Printing)The part of a type body that forms the sides of the groove at the base.

Toe

Each of the five digits on the end of the foot.

Foot

(Botany)The base of the sporophyte in mosses and liverworts.

Toe

An equivalent part in an animal.

Foot

The inferior part or rank:at the foot of the class.

Toe

That part of a shoe or sock covering the toe.

Foot

The part of a stocking or high-topped boot that encloses the foot.

Toe

Something resembling a toe, especially at the bottom or extreme end of something.

Foot

A manner of moving; a step:walks with a light foot.

Toe

(dance) An advanced form of ballet primarily for the females, dancing ballet primarily using a Pointe shoe.

Foot

Speed or momentum, as in a race:"the only other Democrats who've demonstrated any foot till now"(Michael Kramer).

Toe

(automotive) An alignment of the wheels of a road vehicle, either positive (toe in), meaning the wheels are closer together at the front than at the back, or negative (toe out), the other way round.

Foot

(used with a pl. verb)Foot soldiers; infantry.

Toe

(engineering) The journal, or pivot, at the lower end of a revolving shaft or spindle, which rests in a step.

Foot

A unit of poetic meter consisting of stressed and unstressed syllables in any of various set combinations. For example, an iambic foot has an unstressed followed by a stressed syllable.

Toe

(engineering) A lateral projection at one end, or between the ends, of a piece, such as a rod or bolt, by means of which it is moved.

Foot

In classical quantitative verse, a unit of meter consisting of long and short syllables in any of various set combinations.

Toe

(engineering) A projection from the periphery of a revolving piece, acting as a cam to lift another piece.

Foot

Abbr. ft. or ftA unit of length in the US Customary and British Imperial systems equal to 12 inches (0.3048 meter). See Table at measurement.

Toe

(carpentry) The long side of an angled cut.

Foot

FootsSediment that forms during the refining of oil and other liquids; dregs.

Toe

The upper end of the bit (cutting edge) of an axehead; as opposed to the heel (lower end).

Foot

To go on foot; walk. Often used with it:When their car broke down, they had to foot it the rest of the way.

Toe

(slang) cameltoe

Foot

To dance. Often used with it:"We foot it all the night / weaving olden dances"(William Butler Yeats).

Toe

To furnish (a stocking, etc.) with a toe.

Foot

(Nautical)To make headway; sail.

Toe

To touch, tap or kick with the toes.

Foot

To go by foot over, on, or through; tread.

Toe

(transitive) To touch or reach with the toes; to come fully up to.
To toe the mark

Foot

To execute the steps of (a dance).

Toe

(construction) To fasten (a piece) by driving a fastener at a near-45-degree angle through the side (of the piece) into the piece to which it is to be fastened.
The framers toed the irregular pieces into the sill.

Foot

To add up (a column of numbers) and write the sum at the bottom; total:footed up the bill.

Toe

(golf) To mishit a golf ball with the toe of the club.

Foot

To pay; defray:footed the expense of their children's education.

Toe

One of the terminal members, or digits, of the foot of a man or an animal.

Foot

To provide (a stocking, for example) with a foot.

Toe

The fore part of the hoof or foot of an animal.

Foot

A biological structure found in many animals that is used for locomotion and that is frequently a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg.
A spider has eight feet.

Toe

Anything, or any part, corresponding to the toe of the foot; as, the toe of a boot; the toe of a skate.

Foot

(anatomy) Specifically, a human foot, which is found below the ankle and is used for standing and walking.
Southern Italy is shaped like a foot.

Toe

The journal, or pivot, at the lower end of a revolving shaft or spindle, which rests in a step.

Foot

(often used attributively) Travel by walking.
We went there by foot because we could not afford a taxi.
There is a lot of foot traffic on this street.

Toe

To touch or reach with the toes; to come fully up to; as, to toe the mark.

Foot

The base or bottom of anything.
I'll meet you at the foot of the stairs.

Toe

To hold or carry the toes (in a certain way).

Foot

The part of a flat surface on which the feet customarily rest.
We came and stood at the foot of the bed.

Toe

One of the digits of the foot

Foot

The end of a rectangular table opposite the head.
The host should sit at the foot of the table.

Toe

The part of footwear that provides a covering for the toes

Foot

A short foot-like projection on the bottom of an object to support it.
The feet of the stove hold it a safe distance above the floor.

Toe

Forepart of a hoof

Foot

A unit of measure equal to twelve inches or one third of a yard, equal to exactly 30.48 centimetres.
The flag pole at the local high school is about 20 feet high.

Toe

(golf) the part of a clubhead farthest from the shaft

Foot

(music) A unit of measure for organ pipes equal to the wavelength of two octaves above middle C, approximately 328 mm.

Toe

Walk so that the toes assume an indicated position or direction;
She toes inwards

Foot

Foot soldiers; infantry.
King John went to battle with ten thousand foot and one thousand horse.

Toe

Drive obliquely;
Toe a nail

Foot

(cigars) The end of a cigar which is lit, and usually cut before lighting.

Toe

Hit (a golf ball) with the toe of the club

Foot

(sewing) The part of a sewing machine which presses downward on the fabric, and may also serve to move it forward.

Toe

Drive (a golf ball) with the toe of the club

Foot

(printing) The bottommost part of a typed or printed page.

Toe

Touch with the toe

Foot

(printing) The base of a piece of type, forming the sides of the groove.

Toe

Having a toe or toes of a specified kind; often used in combination;
Long-toed
Five-toed

Foot

(prosody) The basic measure of rhythm in a poem.

Toe

One of the digits of the human foot.
She painted her toenails red.

Foot

(phonology) The parsing of syllables into prosodic constituents, which are used to determine the placement of stress in languages along with the notions of constituent heads.

Toe

The front part of a shoe or sock.
There's a hole in the toe of my sock.

Foot

(nautical) The bottom edge of a sail.
To make the mainsail fuller in shape, the outhaul is eased to reduce the tension on the foot of the sail.

Toe

The pointed end of something, especially a tool.
The toe of the spade dug into the soil.

Foot

(billiards) The end of a billiard or pool table behind the foot point where the balls are racked.

Foot

(botany) In a bryophyte, that portion of a sporophyte which remains embedded within and attached to the parent gametophyte plant.

Foot

(malacology) The muscular part of a bivalve mollusc or a gastropod by which it moves or holds its position on a surface.

Foot

(molecular biology) The globular lower domain of a protein.

Foot

(geometry) The point of intersection of one line with another that is perpendicular to it.

Foot

Fundamental principle; basis; plan.

Foot

Recognized condition; rank; footing.

Foot

(transitive) To use the foot to kick (usually a ball).

Foot

(transitive) To pay (a bill).

Foot

To tread to measure of music; to dance; to trip; to skip.

Foot

To walk.

Foot

To set foot on; to walk on.

Foot

(obsolete) To set on foot; to establish; to land.

Foot

To renew the foot of (a stocking, etc.).

Foot

To sum up, as the numbers in a column; sometimes with up.
To foot (or foot up) an account

Foot

The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.

Foot

The muscular locomotive organ of a mollusk. It is a median organ arising from the ventral region of body, often in the form of a flat disk, as in snails. See Illust. of Buccinum.

Foot

That which corresponds to the foot of a man or animal; as, the foot of a table; the foot of a stocking.

Foot

The lowest part or base; the ground part; the bottom, as of a mountain, column, or page; also, the last of a row or series; the end or extremity, esp. if associated with inferiority; as, the foot of a hill; the foot of the procession; the foot of a class; the foot of the bed; ; the foot of the page.
And now at footOf heaven's ascent they lift their feet.

Foot

Fundamental principle; basis; plan; - used only in the singular.
Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason.

Foot

Recognized condition; rank; footing; - used only in the singular.
As to his being on the foot of a servant.

Foot

A measure of length equivalent to twelve inches; one third of a yard. See Yard.

Foot

Soldiers who march and fight on foot; the infantry, usually designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry.

Foot

A combination of syllables consisting a metrical element of a verse, the syllables being formerly distinguished by their quantity or length, but in modern poetry by the accent.

Foot

The lower edge of a sail.

Foot

To tread to measure or music; to dance; to trip; to skip.

Foot

To walk; - opposed to ride or fly.

Foot

To kick with the foot; to spurn.

Foot

To set on foot; to establish; to land.
What confederacy have you with the traitorsLate footed in the kingdom?

Foot

To tread; as, to foot the green.

Foot

To sum up, as the numbers in a column; - sometimes with up; as, to foot (or foot up) an account.

Foot

To seize or strike with the talon.

Foot

To renew the foot of, as of a stocking.
If you are for a merry jaunt, I'll try, for once, who can foot it farthest.

Foot

A linear unit of length equal to 12 inches or a third of a yard;
He is six feet tall

Foot

The foot of a human being;
His bare feet projected from his trousers
Armored from head to foot

Foot

The lower part of anything;
Curled up on the foot of the bed
The foot of the page
The foot of the list
The foot of the mountain

Foot

Travel by foot;
He followed on foot
The swiftest of foot

Foot

A foot of a vertebrate other than a human being

Foot

A support resembling a pedal extremity;
One foot of the chair was on the carpet

Foot

Lowest support of a structure;
It was built on a base of solid rock
He stood at the foot of the tower

Foot

Any of various organs of locomotion or attachment in invertebrates

Foot

An army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot;
There came ten thousand horsemen and as many fully-armed foot

Foot

A member of a surveillance team who works on foot or rides as a passenger

Foot

A group of 2 or 3 syllables forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm

Foot

Pay for something;
Pick up the tab
Pick up the burden of high-interest mortgages
Foot the bill

Foot

Walk;
Let's hoof it to the disco

Foot

Add a column of numbers

Foot

A unit of measure equal to 12 inches.
The room is 10 feet in length.

Foot

To pay or stand as a bill.
Who will foot the bill for dinner?

Common Curiosities

Which has more bones, the Foot or the Toe?

The Foot has more bones; toes are part of the foot's bone structure.

How many toes are typically on one human foot?

Typically, a human foot has five toes.

Can you walk without a Foot?

It's challenging, but with modern prosthetics, many people manage to walk without a foot.

Is the big Toe part of the foot?

Yes, the big toe is one of the five digits of the foot.

Is the ankle part of the foot?

The ankle is the joint connecting the foot to the leg, not part of the foot itself.

What is "footing the bill" mean?

It means to pay for something, often a shared expense.

Can you have surgery on a toe?

Yes, surgeries can address various toe problems, like bunions.

Can you measure something using the Foot as a unit?

Yes, in the U.S., the foot is a standard unit of length equal to 12 inches.

Do all animals have feet and toes like humans?

No, animal feet and toes vary widely based on their species and adaptations.

What does "toe the line" mean?

It means to conform to a rule or standard.

Why is the big toe significant?

The big toe plays a key role in maintaining balance and aiding in walking.

What's the tip of the shoe called?

The tip of the shoe is called the toe.

Can a foot injury affect the toes?

Yes, a foot injury can impact the toes, depending on its severity.

Are toe rings popular?

Yes, in many cultures, toe rings are worn as fashion accessories.

Is the foot's arch essential?

Yes, the foot's arch helps in weight distribution and provides flexibility.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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