toll
This word carries a heavy emotional weight when used outside of financial contexts. When describing casualties, it suggests a mounting, inevitable cost that is measured in human loss, evoking a sense of tragedy and finality. In a sonic sense, it evokes a slow, rhythmic cadence associated with mourning or warnings. While a chime is light and a ring is general, a toll is deliberate and oppressive, often signaling the end of a life or a period of time.
Countable when referring to specific fees paid at a booth. Uncountable when referring to the overall cumulative damage or cost of a traumatic event.
Meanings
The number of deaths or casualties caused by a disaster.
"The death toll rose to fifty after the flood."
The sound of a bell rung slowly and solemnly.
"The deep toll of the bell echoed through the valley."