Definition to
Etymology
From Middle English to (“to”), from Old English tō (“to”), from Proto-Germanic *tō, *ta (“to”), from Proto-Indo-European *de, *do (“to”). Cognate with Scots tae, to (“to”), North Frisian to, tö, tu (“to”), Saterland Frisian tou (“to”), Low German to (“to”), Dutch toe (“to”), German zu (“to”), West Frisian ta (“to”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian ndaj (“towards”), Irish do (“to, for”), Breton da (“to, for”), Welsh i (“to, for”), Russian до (do, “to”).
Particle
to
- A particle used for marking the following verb as an infinitive.
- As above, with the verb implied.
- A particle used to create phrasal verbs.
Preposition
to
- Indicating destination: In the direction of, and arriving at.
- For the purpose of.
- Used to indicate result of action.
- Used after an adjective to indicate its application.
- (obsolete) As a.
- (arithmetic) Used to indicate a ratio or comparison.
- (arithmetic) Used to indicate that the preceding term is to be raised to the power of the following value; indicates exponentiation.
- Used to indicate the indirect object.
- (time) Preceding.
- Used to describe what something consists of or contains.
- (Canada, Britain, Newfoundland, West Midlands) At.
Adverb
to (not comparable)
- Toward a closed, touching or engaging position.
- (nautical) Into the wind.
- Misspelling of too.