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

Example Sentences

Her mouth often pulls to the right when she speaks, her admirable non-native English tugged easterly in a Finnish accent.

From Los Angeles Times

In the darkness of her parlor, Sarah Taylor felt a tug at her skirt, a toddler’s body pressed against her knees.

From Literature

The tug of war between a sound market backdrop and rising external risks is likely to continue, with offsetting pressures potentially holding back broader index gains into the coming weeks.

From Barron's

We played tug of war for a few seconds, then he turned his end loose and ran back down the trail a little ways.

From Literature

They tugged at my fingers, and with their combined efforts I felt an actual pull to get up.

From Literature