tower

¹

[tou-er]

noun

1. a building or structure high in proportion to its lateral dimensions, either isolated or forming part of a building.

2. such a structure used as or intended for a stronghold, fortress, prison, etc.

3. any of various fully enclosed fireproof housings for vertical communications, as staircases, between the stories of a building.

4. any structure, contrivance, or object that resembles or suggests a tower.

5. a tall, movable structure used in ancient and medieval warfare in storming a fortified place.

6. Computers.,  a tall, vertical case with accessible horizontal drive bays, designed to house a computer system standing on a desk or floor.

7. Aviation.,  control tower.

verb (used without object)

1. to rise or extend far upward, as a tower; reach or stand high.

   The skyscraper towers above the city.

2. to rise above or surpass others.

   She towers above the other students.

3. Falconry.,  (of a hawk) to rise straight into the air; to ring up.

tower

²

[toh-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that tows.

tower

/ ˈtaʊə /

noun

1. a tall, usually square or circular structure, sometimes part of a larger building and usually built for a specific purpose

   a church tower

   a control tower

2. a place of defence or retreat

3. a mobile structure used in medieval warfare to attack a castle, etc

4. a person who gives support, comfort, etc

verb

1. (intr) to be or rise like a tower; loom

Other Word Forms

• towerless adjective
• towerlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tower¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun tour, earlier tur, tor, from Old French tur, tor, from Latin turris, from Greek týrris, variant of týrsis “tower”; Middle English tor perhaps continuing Old English torr, from Latin turris, as above

Origin of tower²

First recorded in 1485–95; tow ¹ + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tower¹

C12: from Old French tur, from Latin turris, from Greek

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. tower of strength, a person who can be relied on for support, aid, or comfort, especially in times of difficulty.

More idioms and phrases containing tower

• ivory tower

Example Sentences

The blaze rapidly engulfed several towers at the housing estate, which includes eight buildings of 31 floors each and that have a combined total of 1,984 units.

Read more on Barron's

The guardrails could be unclicked and a mobile air traffic tower set up in minutes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The towers were still burning early Thursday and firefighters were working to put it out, Lee said, adding that the fire department had enough resources to contain it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Two miles away in Ocean Beach, a surfer alerted the lifeguard tower that a dog had been swept into a rip current and was drifting out to sea.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Built in 1983, The tower blocks were undergoing renovations, and the outside of the buildings was covered in bamboo scaffolding.

Read more on BBC