towel

American  

[tou-uhl, toul] / ˈtaʊ əl, taʊl /

noun

1. an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping and drying something wet, as one for the hands, face, or body after washing or bathing.

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verb (used with object)

toweled, toweling towelled, towelling

1. to wipe or dry with a towel.

idioms

1. throw in the towel,  to concede defeat; give up; yield.

   He vowed he would never throw in the towel.

towel British  

/ ˈtaʊəl /

noun

1. a square or rectangular piece of absorbent cloth or paper used for drying the body

2. a similar piece of cloth used for drying plates, cutlery, etc

3. See throw in

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verb

1. to dry or wipe with a towel

2. slang  to assault or beat (a person)

towel More Idioms  

1. see crying towel; throw in the sponge (towel).

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Etymology

Origin of towel

1250–1300; Middle English (noun) < Old French toaille cloth for washing or wiping < West Germanic *thwahliō (> Old High German dwahilla, akin to dwahal bath); cognate with Gothic thwahl, thwēal washing

Example Sentences

Bear markets tend to be more violent, with the market plunging as the few remaining bulls throw in the towel.

From Barron's

The soundtrack is actual vinyl—crackly, charming, blessedly free of Spotify commercials for paper towels.

From Salon

They are facing an ominous task in Brisbane where England have won just twice since World War II, but another former England captain is not yet ready to throw in the towel.

From Barron's

Along with his blue jail jumpsuit, he wore a yarmulke and towel around his neck.

From Los Angeles Times

She had enough beach towels to dry off the U.S.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• bake
• blot
• deplete
• drain
• empty
• evaporate
• exhaust
• sear
• shrivel
• wilt
• wipe
• wither