Definitions for TOtu; unstressed tʊ, tə

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

totu; unstressed tʊ, tə(prep.)

(used for expressing motion or direction toward a place, person, or thing approached and reached):
Come to the house.
(used for expressing motion or direction toward something):
from north to south.
(used for expressing limit of movement or extension):
He grew to six feet.
(used for expressing a point of limit in time) before; until:
ten minutes to six.
(used for expressing destination or appointed end):
sentenced to jail.
(used for expressing a resulting state or condition):
He tore it to pieces.
(used for expressing the object of inclination or desire):
They drank to her health.
(used for expressing the object of a right or claim):
claimants to an estate.
(used for expressing limit in degree, condition, or amount):
wet to the skin.
(used for expressing comparison or opposition):
inferior to last year's crop.
(used for expressing agreement or accordance) according to; by:
a room to your liking.
(used for expressing reference, reaction, or relation):
What will he say to this?
(used for expressing a relative position):
parallel to the roof; the woman standing to the left of the car.
(used for expressing a proportion) in; making up:
12 to the dozen.
(used for indicating the indirect object of a verb or for connecting a verb with its complement):
Give it to me.
(used as the ordinary sign of the infinitive, as in expressing motion, direction, or purpose.)
Math. raised to the power indicated: Three to the fourth is 81 (34= 81).
Category: Math
(adv.)toward a point, person, place, or thing.
toward a closed position:
Pull the door to.
toward a matter, action, or work.
into a state of consciousness:
after he came to.

Idioms for to:

to and fro,alternately in opposite directions; trees swaying to and fro in the wind.
Category: Idiom

Origin of to:

bef. 900; ME, OE tō, c. OFris, OS tō, OHG zō, zuo

t.o.

turnover.
turn over.

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

to(preposition)ʊ, tə
indicates the infinitive form of a verb
Would you like to eat now?; I have to leave.
toʊ, tə
indicates the aim of an action
He's coming over to fix the fence.
toʊ, tə
indicates where sb or sth is going
He walked to his car.; a plane going to Phoenix
toʊ, tə
indicates the person or thing affected by an action
He gave the letter to his mother.; I described the man to the police officer.
toʊ, tə
indicates the position sb or sth is in or the direction they are facing
It's a door to the left after the bathroom.; Wave to Mommy.
toʊ, tə
indicates where sth is attached
a note stuck to the wall
toʊ, tə
until a time or until sth happens
How many days is it to Halloween?; The pool from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. FRE verbe?; It's 8 minutes to 9:00.
toʊ, tə
indicates sb's opinion or feeling about sth
It's really important to me.
toʊ, tə
indicates a comparison or relationship
They're leading 4 goals to 2.; We compared dieting to exercise, and exercise was better.
toʊ, tə
indicates sth is needed for sth else
the solution to the problem; the key to my jewellery box
toʊ, tə
indicates a particular reaction to sth
To my horror, my car was gone.
toʊ, tə
backward and forward
a boy swinging to and fro

Wiktionary

to(Adverb)
Toward a closed, touching or engaging position.
Please would you push the door to.
to(Adverb)
Into the wind.
to(Preposition)
In the direction of, and arriving at.
We are walking to the shop.
to(Preposition)
.
Well have fun, but, word to the wise, don't let your sister take control.
to(Preposition)
Preceding.
ten to ten = 9:50; We're going to leave at ten to (the hour).
to(Preposition)
at
Stay where you're to and I'll come find you, b'y.

Origin: From tō, from de. Cognate with to, zuo.

Webster Dictionary

To(u)
the preposition to primarily indicates approach and arrival, motion made in the direction of a place or thing and attaining it, access; and also, motion or tendency without arrival; movement toward; -- opposed to from
To(u)
hence, it indicates motion, course, or tendency toward a time, a state or condition, an aim, or anything capable of being regarded as a limit to a tendency, movement, or action; as, he is going to a trade; he is rising to wealth and honor
To(u)
in a very general way, and with innumerable varieties of application, to connects transitive verbs with their remoter or indirect object, and adjectives, nouns, and neuter or passive verbs with a following noun which limits their action. Its sphere verges upon that of for, but it contains less the idea of design or appropriation; as, these remarks were addressed to a large audience; let us keep this seat to ourselves; a substance sweet to the taste; an event painful to the mind; duty to God and to our parents; a dislike to spirituous liquor
To(u)
as sign of the infinitive, to had originally the use of last defined, governing the infinitive as a verbal noun, and connecting it as indirect object with a preceding verb or adjective; thus, ready to go, i.e., ready unto going; good to eat, i.e., good for eating; I do my utmost to lead my life pleasantly. But it has come to be the almost constant prefix to the infinitive, even in situations where it has no prepositional meaning, as where the infinitive is direct object or subject; thus, I love to learn, i.e., I love learning; to die for one's country is noble, i.e., the dying for one's country. Where the infinitive denotes the design or purpose, good usage formerly allowed the prefixing of for to the to; as, what went ye out for see? (Matt. xi. 8)
To(u)
in many phrases, and in connection with many other words, to has a pregnant meaning, or is used elliptically
To(u)
extent; limit; degree of comprehension; inclusion as far as; as, they met us to the number of three hundred
To(u)
effect; end; consequence; as, the prince was flattered to his ruin; he engaged in a war to his cost; violent factions exist to the prejudice of the state
To(u)
apposition; connection; antithesis; opposition; as, they engaged hand to hand
To(u)
accord; adaptation; as, an occupation to his taste; she has a husband to her mind
To(u)
comparison; as, three is to nine as nine is to twenty-seven; it is ten to one that you will offend him
To(u)
addition; union; accumulation
To(u)
accompaniment; as, she sang to his guitar; they danced to the music of a piano
To(u)
character; condition of being; purpose subserved or office filled