toe box
noun
plural toe boxes
1
: the part of footwear enclosing the toes
Most high-fashion heels have a narrow, pointy toe box that squeezes the toes together …—Food & Fitness Advisor
2
ballet
: the reinforced toe enclosure of a pointe shoe
… the hard oval bottom of the toe box which the ballerina will balance on.—Kevin Conley
The toe box of the shoe usually is made of burlap and paper soaked with glue. … There's a small window of time before the shoe's toe box becomes too soft to use. Professional dancers might even go through more than one pair during a performance.—Eileen Brady
Cite this Entry
“Toe box.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toe%20box. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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