tug

American  

[tuhg] / tʌg /

verb (used with object)

tugged, tugging

1. to pull at with force, vigor, or effort.

   Synonyms:

   wrench, jerk, yank

2. to move by pulling forcibly; drag; haul.

3. to tow (a vessel) by means of a tugboat.

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verb (used without object)

tugged, tugging

1. to pull with force or effort.

   to tug at a stuck drawer.

2. to strive hard; labor; toil.

noun

1. an act or instance of tugging; pull; haul.

2. a strenuous contest between opposing forces, groups, or persons; struggle.

   the tug of young minds in a seminar.

3. tugboat.

4. that by which something is tugged, as a rope or chain.

5. (on a harness)

   1. trace.

   2. any of various supporting or pulling parts.

tug British  

/ tʌɡ /

verb

1. to pull or drag with sharp or powerful movements

   the boy tugged at the door handle

2. (tr) to tow (a vessel) by means of a tug

3. (intr) to work; toil

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noun

1. a strong pull or jerk

   he gave the rope a tug

2. Also called: tugboat.   towboat.  a boat with a powerful engine, used for towing barges, ships, etc

3. a hard struggle or fight

4. a less common word for trace 2

Other Word Forms

• tugger
  noun
• tugless
  adjective
• untugged
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tug

1175–1225; Middle English toggen to play-wrestle, contend; akin to Old English togian to tow ¹

Explanation

To tug is to forcefully pull or drag something. You might need your sister's help to tug your knee-high boots off at the end of a long day. A child might tug at his parent's arm and a commuter might tug a rolling suitcase behind her as she enters a subway car. Something else that tugs is a tugboat — and tug is a common nickname for these boats that are designed to pull (or push) other vessels. Tug and tow share the same root word meaning "to pull" or "to lead."

Example Sentences

The advantage to ordering takeout from TUG, as it’s affectionately known, is the option of ordering a la carte.

From Washington Post • Mar. 19, 2021

The next TUG Wine School session, on wines of Portugal, is Feb. 7 at 4 p.m.

From Washington Post • Feb. 3, 2021

TUG MCGRAW, 59, intensely competitive left-hander whose relief-pitching prowess helped the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies capture World Series championships; of brain cancer; in Nashville.

From Time Magazine Archive

TUG OF WAR Good for muscle and will.

From A Handbook of Health by Hutchinson, Woods