A toe refers to one of the five small, flexible digits at the end of your foot. Just as your fingers help you grip and manipulate objects with your hands, your toes help you balance and push off when you walk or run. The big toe, the largest of the five, does most of the work when you're moving, while the smaller toes help you stay steady.

Your toes are surprisingly important for everyday movement. Try standing on one foot and notice how your toes grip the floor to help you balance. When you run or jump, your toes flex and push against the ground to propel you forward. Ballet dancers learn to rise up on their toes for certain moves, which takes tremendous strength and practice.

The word appears in several common expressions. When you toe the line, you follow the rules carefully, like staying behind a starting line before a race begins. If something keeps you on your toes, it requires you to stay alert and ready, the way a goalkeeper has to stay light on their feet. And when you accidentally upset someone, you might step on their toes, meaning you've interfered with something they care about or are responsible for.