tower

[ tou-er ]

/ ˈtaʊ ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tower ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aviation. control tower.

verb (used without object)

to rise or extend far upward, as a tower; reach or stand high: The skyscraper towers above the city.

to rise above or surpass others: She towers above the other students.

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

Nearby words

towel rack, towel rail, towelette, toweling, towelling, tower, tower block, tower bolt, tower crane, tower hamlets, tower of babel

Idioms

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

Origin of tower

before 900; (noun) Middle English tour, earlier tur, tor < Old French < Latin turris < Greek týrris, variant of týrsis tower; Middle English tor perhaps in some cases continuing Old English torr < Latin turris, as above; (v.) late Middle English touren, derivative of the noun

Related forms

tow·er·less, adjectivetow·er·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for towered

A burly Belgian, strapped with grenades and ammunition, towered above them.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Richards, who towered over his Dennehy when he appeared in court alongside her Monday, denies all charges.
Female British Serial Killer Shocks Lawyer, Pleads Guilty|Tom Sykes|November 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The film played on a dozen or so boxed-in screens that towered over the Park Avenue Armory audience.
Nothing New Under the Sun|Justin Jones|October 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He was a tall boy anyway, but the extra year made it so that he towered over his new classmates.
He Was My Favorite Student, and They Say He Killed a Baby|Brandy Zadrozny|September 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The imposing edifice of the U.S. Embassy towered over all, just a few blocks away.
Fire In Cairo: A View From the Arab Street|John Kael Weston|September 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Then, seizing him, he flung him to the ground, and towered above him with upraised sword.
Historic Tales, Vol. XIII (of 15)|Charles Morris
But the old man stood and watched the long gap, where for centuries the castle of the Carnes had towered.
Springhaven|R. D. Blackmore
She had risen, and she towered there, a lean and malevolent figure, her head-dress nodding foolishly.
The Lion's Skin|Rafael Sabatini
Jack got up again, but this time he towered belligerently above her.
The Lookout Man|B. M. Bower
Mr. Quimby towered above Mr. Magee, a shirt-sleeved statue of honest American manhood.
Seven Keys to Baldpate|Earl Derr Biggers

British Dictionary definitions for towered (1 of 2)

towered

/ (ˈtaʊəd) /

adjective

having a tower or towers
(in combination)four-towered; high-towered

British Dictionary definitions for towered (2 of 2)

tower

/ (ˈtaʊə) /

noun

a tall, usually square or circular structure, sometimes part of a larger building and usually built for a specific purposea church tower; a control tower

a place of defence or retreat

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

tower of strength a person who gives support, comfort, etc

verb

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

Word Origin for tower

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with towered

tower

In addition to the idiom beginning with tower

tower of strength

also see:

ivory tower

tower

noun

verb (used without object)

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of tower

Related forms

Examples from the Web for towered

British Dictionary definitions for towered (1 of 2)

towered

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for towered (2 of 2)

tower

noun

verb

Word Origin for tower

Idioms and Phrases with towered

tower