tow

Meaning

Verb

1. To pull something behind one, such as by using a line, chain, or tongue.
2. To aid someone behind by shielding them from wind resistance.

Noun

1. The act of towing and the condition of being towed.
2. Something, such as a tugboat, that tows.
3. Something, such as a barge, that is towed.
4. A rope or cable used in towing.
5. A speed increase given by driving in front of another car on a straight, which causes a slipstream for the car behind.

Noun

1. An untwisted bundle of fibres such as cellulose acetate, flax, hemp or jute.
2. The short, coarse, less desirable fibres separated by hackling from the finer longer fibres (line).

Synonyms

drag

pull

haul

tug

draw

oakum

trail

towage

towing

carry

traction

draught

drawl

draft

drag along

fire

🔥

hards

hitch

lead

pulling

shoot

twitch

tow-line

draw in

hauling

have in tow

hemp

tow-rope

kedge

stroke

lint

lug

move

draw back

play

dragging

pull back

draw along

pull out

pull up

retract

swimming stroke

stretch

take

taxis

temptation

tie

convey

conduct

combings

cart

bet

hemps

veto

wad

wadding

wager

wind

wind up

yank

drawing

addition

draw off

draw out

extract

take in tow

get out

Pronounced as (IPA)

/təʊ/

Etymology

From Middle English towen, from Old English togian, from Proto-West Germanic *togōn, from Proto-Germanic *tugōną, from Proto-Indo-European *dewk-.
See also Middle High German zogen, German ziehen, Dutch tijgen, Old Norse toga.