tossed

Tossed is the past tense and past participle of the verb toss. To toss means to throw something lightly or casually, or to flip or move something with a quick, light motion. It can also mean to mix ingredients by lifting and turning them over. In everyday language, "tossed" describes objects that have been thrown, flipped, or mixed.

In cooking, a "tossed" dish indicates ingredients have been lightly mixed. A tossed salad is prepared by combining greens and other ingredients with a light dressing, using hands or utensils to toss until evenly coated.

In idiomatic use, many expressions incorporate "toss": "toss up" refers to a decision by chance or something equally likely; "toss a coin" to decide. "Toss and turn" describes restlessness in sleep. "Tossed about" or "tossed around" can describe ideas circulated or moved around among people or places.

In other senses, something that has been tossed can be described as displaced or moved, for example a ship tossed in rough seas, describing motion.

The term appears in literature and journalism as a simple past participle, not limited to food. The nuance depends on context: casual throwing, mixing, or the descriptive motion of objects or people.