To toot means to make a short, sharp sound with a horn, whistle, or similar instrument. When a car horn toots, it gives a quick beep. A train engineer toots the locomotive's whistle as it approaches a crossing. Musicians toot on trumpets or clarinets during practice.

The word captures that brief, attention-getting quality of the sound. You don't toot for long: you give a quick blast and stop. It's lighter and friendlier than words like blare or blast. A parent might gently toot the car horn to let kids know it's time to leave, rather than leaning on it impatiently.

As a noun, a toot is that short sound itself.

Toot can also mean to boast or brag, though usually in a playful way. If you toot your own horn, you're proudly announcing your accomplishments. While bragging constantly annoys people, there's nothing wrong with occasionally tooting your own horn when you've genuinely achieved something worth celebrating.