Tole vs. Toll: What's the Difference?
By Janet White || Updated on May 29, 2024
Tole refers to painted tin or ironware, often decorative, whereas toll denotes a fee for using a road, bridge, or another service.
Key Differences
Tole refers to painted or enameled tin and ironware, typically used for decorative purposes. This type of metalwork often features intricate designs and vibrant colors, making it popular in home decor. Toll, on the other hand, refers to a fee charged for the use of a particular service or infrastructure, such as a road, bridge, or tunnel. Toll roads are common in many countries, providing a means to fund the construction and maintenance of these facilities.
Tole is primarily associated with art and decoration, involving the application of paint to metal surfaces. In contrast, toll is linked to transportation and finance, involving monetary charges for the use of infrastructure. The artistic nature of tole stands in stark contrast to the practical, financial aspect of tolls.
Tole items are often cherished for their aesthetic value and craftsmanship, while tolls are seen as necessary expenses for maintaining and accessing infrastructure. The two terms, although phonetically similar, occupy entirely different contexts in everyday usage.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Painted or enameled tin/ironware
Fee for using infrastructure or services
Primary Use
Decorative purposes
Transportation funding
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Context
Art and decoration
Finance and infrastructure
Example Objects
Trays, lamps, canisters
Roads, bridges, tunnels
Metaphorical Use
Rarely used metaphorically
Describes impact or cost (e.g., stress)
Tole and Toll Definitions
Tole
Painted or enameled tinware.
She collected antique tole trays with floral designs.
Toll
Charge for access to infrastructure.
The toll for the highway was collected at several points.
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Tole
Craft of painting on metal.
Tole painting classes were offered at the local community center.
Toll
Metaphor for the impact of an event.
The constant stress took a toll on his health.
Tole
Decorative metalwork.
The tole lamp added a vintage charm to the room.
Toll
Effect or consequence of an action.
The economic crisis had a significant toll on businesses.
Tole
A lacquered or enameled metalware, usually gilded and elaborately painted.
Toll
A fixed charge or tax for a privilege, especially for passage across a bridge or along a road.
Tole
A decorative metalware having a lacquered or enamelled surface that is painted or gilded.
Toll
A charge for a service, such as a telephone call to another country.
Tole
(historical) A portion of grain paid to the miller who grinds it.
Toll
An amount or extent of loss or destruction, as of life, health, or property
"Poverty and inadequate health care take their toll on the quality of a community's health" (Los Angeles Times).
Tole
(archaic) To entice; to allure or attract.
It is often necessary to tole a big stag, to induce him to leave the hind ...
Toll
The act of tolling.
Tole
To draw, or cause to follow, by displaying something pleasing or desirable; to allure by some bait.
Whatever you observe him to be more frighted at then he should, tole him on to by insensible degrees, till at last he masters the difficulty.
Toll
The sound of a bell being struck.
Tole
Enameled or lacquered metalware (usually gilded and elaborately painted); popular in the 18th century;
The Pennsylvania Dutch tole watering can might be a reproduction but it looks convincing
Toll
To exact as a toll.
Tole
Ornate tin or iron objects.
The kitchen shelves displayed colorful tole canisters.
Toll
To charge a fee for using (a structure, such as a bridge).
Tole
Art form involving metal and paint.
Her tole creations were popular at the craft fair.
Toll
To sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals.
Toll
To announce or summon by tolling.
Toll
To sound in slowly repeated single tones.
Toll
A fee paid for some liberty or privilege, particularly for the privilege of passing over a bridge or on a highway, or for that of vending goods in a fair, market, etc.
Toll
Loss or damage incurred through a disaster.
The war has taken its toll on the people.
Toll
(business) A fee for using any kind of material processing service.
We can handle on a toll basis your needs for spray drying, repackaging, crushing and grinding, and dry blending.
Toll
(US) A tollbooth.
We will be replacing some manned tolls with high-speed device readers.
Toll
A liberty to buy and sell within the bounds of a manor.
Toll
A portion of grain taken by a miller as a compensation for grinding.
Toll
The act or sound of tolling.
Toll
(transitive) To impose a fee for the use of.
Once more it is proposed to toll the East River bridges.
Toll
(ambitransitive) To levy a toll on (someone or something).
Toll
(transitive) To take as a toll.
Toll
To pay a toll or tallage.
Toll
(ergative) To ring (a bell) slowly and repeatedly.
Martin tolled the great bell every day.
Ask not for whom the bell tolls.
Toll
(transitive) To summon by ringing a bell.
The ringer tolled the workers back from the fields for vespers.
Toll
(transitive) To announce by tolling.
The bells tolled the King’s death.
Toll
(figuratively) To make a sound as if made by a bell.
Toll
To draw; pull; tug; drag.
Toll
(transitive) To tear in pieces.
Toll
(transitive) To draw; entice; invite; allure.
Hou many virgins shal she tolle and drawe to þe Lord - "Life of Our Lady"
Toll
(transitive) To lure with bait; tole (especially, fish and animals).
Toll
To take away; to vacate; to annul.
Toll
(legal) To suspend.
The defendant’s wrongful conduct.
Toll
To take away; to vacate; to annul.
Toll
To draw; to entice; to allure. See Tole.
Toll
To cause to sound, as a bell, with strokes slowly and uniformly repeated; as, to toll the funeral bell.
Toll
To strike, or to indicate by striking, as the hour; to ring a toll for; as, to toll a departed friend.
Slow tolls the village clock the drowsy hour.
Toll
To call, summon, or notify, by tolling or ringing.
When hollow murmurs of their evening bellsDismiss the sleepy swains, and toll them to their cells.
Toll
To sound or ring, as a bell, with strokes uniformly repeated at intervals, as at funerals, or in calling assemblies, or to announce the death of a person.
The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll.
Now sink in sorrows with a tolling bell.
Toll
To pay toll or tallage.
Toll
To take toll; to raise a tax.
Well could he [the miller] steal corn and toll thrice.
No Italian priestShall tithe or toll in our dominions.
Toll
To collect, as a toll.
Toll
The sound of a bell produced by strokes slowly and uniformly repeated.
Toll
A tax paid for some liberty or privilege, particularly for the privilege of passing over a bridge or on a highway, or for that of vending goods in a fair, market, or the like.
Toll
A liberty to buy and sell within the bounds of a manor.
Toll
A portion of grain taken by a miller as a compensation for grinding.
Toll
A fee levied for the use of roads or bridges (used for maintenance)
Toll
Value measured by what must be given or done or undergone to obtain something;
The cost in human life was enormous
The price of success is hard work
What price glory?
Toll
The sound of a bell being struck;
Saved by the bell
She heard the distant toll of church bells
Toll
Ring slowly;
For whom the bell tolls
Toll
Charge a fee for using;
Toll the bridges into New York City
Toll
A fee for using a road or bridge.
Drivers paid the toll to cross the bridge.
Toll
Cost associated with a service.
There was a toll for using the express lane.
FAQs
Where is tole commonly used?
Tole is commonly used in home decor and craft items such as trays and lamps.
Is tole related to transportation?
No, tole is related to decorative arts and crafts.
What does toll mean?
Toll is a fee charged for using a specific service or infrastructure, like a road or bridge.
Can toll be used metaphorically?
Yes, toll can describe the impact or cost of an event, such as stress taking a toll on health.
What is tole?
Tole refers to painted or enameled tin or ironware, often used for decoration.
Is tole painting a traditional craft?
Yes, tole painting is a traditional craft involving the decoration of metal objects.
Where are tolls typically found?
Tolls are typically found on roads, bridges, and tunnels to fund their maintenance.
What materials are used in tole?
Tole typically involves tin or iron that is painted or enameled.
Can tole items be antiques?
Yes, tole items can be valuable antiques, especially if they are well-crafted and preserved.
Do tolls have a legal basis?
Yes, tolls are often established by government authorities or private companies under legal frameworks.
How are toll fees collected?
Toll fees are often collected at toll booths or through electronic systems on roads and bridges.
Do tolls fund infrastructure projects?
Yes, tolls are used to fund the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges.
What kinds of designs are typical in tole art?
Tole art often features floral, folk art, or intricate decorative patterns.
Do tolls vary in cost?
Yes, tolls can vary depending on the road, bridge, or time of use.
Can tolls be collected electronically?
Yes, many tolls are collected electronically through systems like E-ZPass.
Is tole painting still practiced today?
Yes, tole painting is still a practiced art form, with many hobbyists and artists involved.
Can tole items be functional?
Yes, tole items can be both decorative and functional, like trays or canisters.
Are toll fees used for environmental projects?
Sometimes, toll fees are allocated to environmental and infrastructure improvement projects.
Are tolls mandatory for all roads?
No, tolls are specific to certain roads, bridges, or tunnels that charge for usage.
Is tole used in modern decor?
Yes, tole items are still popular in modern decor for their vintage and artistic appeal.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
