tow
1[ toh ]
/ toʊ /
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verb (used with object)
to pull or haul (a car, barge, trailer, etc.) by a rope, chain, or other device: The car was towed to the service station.
noun
an act or instance of towing.
something being towed.
something, as a boat or truck, that tows.
a rope, chain, metal bar, or other device for towing: The trailer is secured to the car by a metal tow.
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Idioms for tow
- in the state of being towed.
- under one's guidance; in one's charge.
- as a follower, admirer, or companion: a professor who always had a graduate student in tow.
in tow,
under tow, in the condition of being towed; in tow.
Origin of tow
1First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb touen, towe, Old English togian “to pull by force, drag, pull”; cognate with Middle High German zogen, German ziehen “to draw, tug, drag”; the noun is derivative of the verb; see tug
OTHER WORDS FROM tow
tow·a·ble, adjectivetow·a·bil·i·ty, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tow
toe, towWords nearby tow
Definition for tow (2 of 4)
tow2
[ toh ]
/ toʊ /
noun
the fiber of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning by beating.
the shorter, less desirable flax fibers separated from line fibers in combing.
synthetic filaments prior to spinning.
adjective
made of tow.
Origin of tow
2First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tou, tow(e), tough “unworked flax,” Old English tōw- (in tōwlīc “pertaining to weaving,” tōwhūs “spinning house”); akin to Old Norse tō “wool”
Definition for tow (3 of 4)
tow3
[ toh ]
/ toʊ /
noun Scot.
a rope.
Origin of tow
3First recorded in 1500–20; late Middle English (Scots); Old English toh- (in tohlīne “towline”); cognate with Old Norse tog “rope, line, towline”; see origin at tow1
Definition for tow (4 of 4)
TOW
[ toh ]
/ toʊ /
noun Military.
a U.S. Army antitank missile, steered to its target by two thin wires connected to a computerized launcher, which is mounted on a vehicle or helicopter.
Origin of TOW
First recorded in 1970–75; abbreviation of t(ube-launched), o(ptically-guided), w(ire-tracked missile)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for tow
British Dictionary definitions for tow (1 of 2)
tow1
/ (təʊ) /
verb
(tr) to pull or drag (a vehicle, boat, etc), esp by means of a rope or cable
noun
Derived forms of tow
towable, adjectiveWord Origin for tow
Old English togian; related to Old Frisian togia, Old Norse toga, Old High German zogōn
British Dictionary definitions for tow (2 of 2)
tow2
/ (təʊ) /
noun
the fibres of hemp, flax, jute, etc, in the scutched state
synthetic fibres preparatory to spinning
the coarser fibres discarded after combing
Derived forms of tow
towy, adjectiveWord Origin for tow
Old English tōw; related to Old Saxon tou, Old Norse tō tuft of wool, Dutch touwen to spin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Idioms and Phrases with tow
tow
see in tow.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.