To tote means to carry something, usually something fairly heavy or bulky. When you tote your backpack to school, you're hauling it along with you. A farmer might tote a bag of feed across the barn, or a construction worker might tote tools from their truck to the building site.

The word has a down-to-earth, practical feeling to it. You don't tote a pencil, but you might tote an armload of firewood or a stack of library books. It suggests steady, capable carrying, the kind where you've got a good grip and you're going somewhere with purpose.

As a noun, a tote is something you carry things in, especially a tote bag. A tote bag gets its name from this meaning: it's a simple, sturdy bag designed for toting groceries, books, or beach supplies. Unlike a backpack with its straps and compartments, a tote bag is usually just a rectangular bag with two handles, built for straightforward carrying.

You might also hear someone say “tote that barge” from the old song “Ol' Man River,” which captures the hard physical work of carrying heavy loads. When you tote something, you're doing real work, moving something substantial from one place to another through your own effort.