Toll vs. Troll: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A toll is a charge for the use of a bridge or road, while a troll is a mythical creature or someone who provokes online.
Key Differences
A toll often refers to a fee paid to use certain infrastructure such as roads, bridges, or tunnels. This fee is usually collected to fund the maintenance and development of the transport network. On the other hand, a troll, in folklore, is depicted as a large, brutish creature that dwells in isolated rocks, caves, or under bridges.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
In the context of the internet and forums, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory or off-topic messages to provoke and disrupt discussions. Conversely, the term toll does not have any relevance in digital communication contexts, remaining strictly within the financial or transactional domain.
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Nov 08, 2023
The impact of tolls on daily commuting can be significant, affecting travel costs and route planning for individuals. Trolls impact online communities, potentially causing emotional distress and disrupting constructive conversation through their provocative actions.
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Nov 08, 2023
The word toll can also be used metaphorically to signify the cost or consequence of something, such as in the phrase "the toll of war". A troll, metaphorically, might be used to describe someone who is figuratively 'under a bridge', meaning they are obstructive or menacing in their behavior or attitudes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
In literature and culture, trolls are often portrayed in stories and myths, with roots in Norse mythology. Tolls, while they may appear in literature, are more commonly a practical consideration in modern life, dealing with the logistics and economics of transportation.
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Nov 08, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A fee for using a road, bridge, or tunnel.
A mythical creature or a provocative internet user.
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Nov 08, 2023
Purpose
Fund maintenance and infrastructure.
Cause disruption or provoke reactions.
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Nov 08, 2023
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Toll and Troll Definitions
Troll
A mythical, cave-dwelling being.
Legends say a troll guards the old bridge.
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Nov 08, 2023
Troll
To fish by trailing a baited line behind a boat.
We decided to troll for pike in the lake.
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Nov 08, 2023
Toll
A payment for services such as a phone call.
Long-distance tolls were higher before the advent of mobile phones.
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Nov 08, 2023
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Troll
To wander or ramble.
He would troll through the town without a destination.
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Nov 08, 2023
Toll
A fixed charge or tax for a privilege, especially for passage across a bridge or along a road.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To fish for by trailing a baited line from behind a slowly moving boat.
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Oct 19, 2023
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).
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To move around in (an area) or go to (different places) searching for something
"The players cautiously refrain from saying anything candid to the press trolling the clubhouse" (David Grann).
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To examine or search through
Trolling the classifieds for a cheap car.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To post inflammatory or irrelevant material on (an electronic forum) to provoke responses.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To stroll along or wander
"As he was extremely early, he trolled past the community center" (David Bezmozgis).
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To move around in an area or go to different places searching for something.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
Loss or damage incurred through a disaster.
The war has taken its toll on the people.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To examine or search through something
Trolling through old family photos looking for a picture of my aunt.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
(US) A tollbooth.
We will be replacing some manned tolls with high-speed device readers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
A person who posts inflammatory or otherwise unwanted material on an electronic forum, especially anonymously.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
(transitive) To impose a fee for the use of.
Once more it is proposed to toll the East River bridges.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
A supernatural creature of Scandinavian folklore, variously portrayed as a friendly or mischievous dwarf or as a giant, that lives in caves, in the hills, or under bridges.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
(Derogatory) A person, especially an older gay man, considered to be unpleasant or ugly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
(fantasy) A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
(ergative) To ring (a bell) slowly and repeatedly.
Martin tolled the great bell every day.
Ask not for whom the bell tolls.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
(slang) An ugly person of either sex, especially one seeking sexual experiences.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
(transitive) To summon by ringing a bell.
The ringer tolled the workers back from the fields for vespers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
Optical ejections from the top of the electrically active core regions of thunderstorms that are red in color that seem to occur after tendrils of vigorous sprites extend downward toward the cloud tops.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
(transitive) To announce by tolling.
The bells tolled the King’s death.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
An instance of trolling, especially, in fishing, the trailing of a baited line.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
A person who posts or says inflammatory, insincere, digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages to provoke others on the Internet for their own personal amusement or to manipulate others' perception.
Keyboard warrior
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
(transitive) To draw; entice; invite; allure.
Hou many virgins shal she tolle and drawe to þe Lord - "Life of Our Lady"
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To draw someone or something out, to entice, to lure as if with trailing bait.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To fish using a line and bait or lures trailed behind a boat similarly to trawling; to lure fish with bait.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
(transitive) To angle for with a trolling line, or with a hook drawn along the surface of the water; hence, to allure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
To cause to sound, as a bell, with strokes slowly and uniformly repeated; as, to toll the funeral bell.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To stroll about in order to find a sexual partner.
He spends most of his waking hours trolling on WIRE.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To post or make inflammatory or insincere statements so as to attempt to lure others into combative argument for purposes of personal entertainment or to manipulate others' perception, especially in an online community or discussion.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To sing the parts of in succession, as of a round, a catch, and the like; also, to sing loudly, freely or in a carefree way.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
A supernatural being, often represented as of diminutive size, but sometimes as a giant, and fabled to inhabit caves, hills, and like places; a witch.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
The sound of a bell produced by strokes slowly and uniformly repeated.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
A song the parts of which are sung in succession; a catch; a round.
Thence the catch and troll, while "Laughter, holding both his sides," sheds tears to song and ballad pathetic on the woes of married life.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To move circularly or volubly; to roll; to turn.
To dress and troll the tongue, and roll the eye.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To send about; to circulate, as a vessel in drinking.
Then doth she troll to the bowl.
Troll the brown bowl.
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Oct 19, 2023
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?
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To sing the parts of in succession, as of a round, a catch, and the like; also, to sing loudly or freely.
Will you troll the catch ?
His sonnets charmed the attentive crowd,By wide-mouthed mortaltrolled aloud.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
The sound of a bell being struck;
Saved by the bell
She heard the distant toll of church bells
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To angle for with a trolling line, or with a book drawn along the surface of the water; hence, to allure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To fish in; to seek to catch fish from.
With patient angle trolls the finny deep.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
To roll; to run about; to move around; as, to troll in a coach and six.
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Oct 19, 2023
Toll
The total cost or damage caused by an event.
The hurricane took a heavy toll on the coast.
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Nov 08, 2023
Troll
To fish with a rod whose line runs on a reel; also, to fish by drawing the hook through the water.
Their young men . . . trolled along the brooks that abounded in fish.
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
(Scandanavian folklore) a supernatural creature (either a dwarf or a giant) that is supposed to live in caves or in the mountains
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
A partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time;
They enjoyed singing rounds
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
A fisherman's lure that is used in trolling;
He used a spinner as his troll
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Oct 19, 2023
Troll
Someone who intentionally upsets others online.
A troll kept disrupting the forum discussion.
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Nov 08, 2023
Troll
To sing loudly or freely.
She would troll old sea shanties while working.
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Nov 08, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Do online trolls always mean harm?
While not always, most online trolls aim to provoke or cause disruption.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is the origin of the word troll in mythology?
The word troll originates from Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore.
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Nov 08, 2023
Are tolls applicable to all vehicles?
Most tolls apply to motor vehicles, but rates can vary by vehicle type and size.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is a road toll?
A road toll is a fee charged for driving on a particular roadway or highway.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can tolls vary by time of day?
Yes, some tolls have variable rates based on the time of day to manage congestion.
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Nov 08, 2023
Is toll collection automated today?
Many tolls are collected via electronic systems, though some still have manual collection.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
What is a toll?
A toll is a charge payable for the use of a bridge, road, tunnel, or other infrastructure.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
What is a troll?
A troll can refer to a mythical, cave-dwelling being depicted in folklore or a person who intentionally upsets people by posting inflammatory content online.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
What is trolling in the context of the internet?
Internet trolling is the act of causing disruption or provoking others online for one's own amusement or to create trouble.
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Nov 08, 2023
How can I avoid trolls online?
Ignoring or blocking trolls is often the best way to avoid engaging with them.
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Nov 08, 2023
Are tolls legal on all roads?
Tolls are legal on roads designated for their collection, typically managed by authorities or private entities.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is "trolling" in fishing?
Trolling in fishing is a technique where one drags a baited line behind a moving boat.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can you report a troll on social media?
Yes, most social media platforms have mechanisms to report trolling behavior.
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Nov 08, 2023
Do all bridges and roads have tolls?
No, not all bridges and roads require tolls; many are funded by taxes and are toll-free.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is a toll-free road?
A toll-free road is one that does not charge users for access.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can tolls be both physical and electronic?
Yes, tolls can be collected through physical toll booths or via electronic toll collection systems.
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Nov 08, 2023
How do you deal with an internet troll?
It's often advised not to engage with trolls, as they seek attention and disruption. Ignoring or blocking them is usually the best approach.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
Can "troll" have a positive connotation?
Rarely, though in some contexts, "troll" may refer to teasing someone playfully and not maliciously, but it’s predominantly negative.
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Nov 08, 2023
Are tolls only monetary?
Primarily yes, tolls are monetary, but historically, tolls could include other forms of payment or labor.
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Nov 08, 2023
What's the origin of the word "troll" in folklore?
The word "troll" comes from Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore, where trolls are depicted as mischievous or malevolent creatures.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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