tow

¹

[ toh ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pull or haul (a car, barge, trailer, etc.) by a rope, chain, or other device:

   The car was towed to the service station.

   Synonyms: tug, draw, trail

noun

1. an act or instance of towing.
2. something being towed.
3. something, as a boat or truck, that tows.
4. a rope, chain, metal bar, or other device for towing:

   The trailer is secured to the car by a metal tow.

5. ski tow.

tow

²

[ toh ]

noun

1. the fiber of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning by beating.
2. the shorter, less desirable flax fibers separated from line fibers in combing.
3. synthetic filaments prior to spinning.

adjective

1. made of tow.

tow

³

[ toh ]

noun

, Scot.

1. a rope.

TOW

⁴

[ toh ]

noun

, Military.

1. 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.

tow

¹

/ təʊ /

verb

1. tr to pull or drag (a vehicle, boat, etc), esp by means of a rope or cable

noun

1. the act or an instance of towing
2. the state of being towed (esp in the phrases in tow, under tow, on tow )
3. something towed
4. something used for towing
5. in tow
   in one's charge or under one's influence
6. informal.
   (in motor racing, etc) the act of taking advantage of the slipstream of another car (esp in the phrase get a tow )
7. short for ski tow

tow

²

/ təʊ /

noun

1. the fibres of hemp, flax, jute, etc, in the scutched state
2. synthetic fibres preparatory to spinning
3. the coarser fibres discarded after combing

Derived Forms

• ˈtowable, adjective
• ˈtowy, adjective

Other Words From

• towa·ble adjective
• towa·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tow¹

First 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; tug

Origin of tow²

First 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”

Origin of tow³

First recorded in 1500–20; late Middle English (Scots); Old English toh- (in tohlīne “towline”); cognate with Old Norse tog “rope, line, towline”; tow ¹

Origin of tow⁴

First recorded in 1970–75; abbreviation of t(ube-launched), o(ptically-guided), w(ire-tracked missile)

Word History and Origins

Origin of tow¹

Old English togian; related to Old Frisian togia, Old Norse toga, Old High German zogōn

Origin of tow²

Old English tōw; related to Old Saxon tou, Old Norse tō tuft of wool, Dutch touwen to spin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in tow,
   1. in the state of being towed.
   2. under one's guidance; in one's charge.
   3. as a follower, admirer, or companion:

      a professor who always had a graduate student in tow.

2. under tow, in the condition of being towed; in tow.

More idioms and phrases containing tow

see in tow .

Example Sentences

As Mr. Modi brought India to the center of the world stage, he brought Mr. Adani in tow.

From New York Times

She had been able to attend for only “tow yare and a half.”

From Slate

She had four people in tow — her fiancé, David Cohen, along with her mom, sister and future sister-in-law — to help carry all the flowers she was purchasing for their small wedding at Pasadena City Hall the next day.

From Los Angeles Times

Most Americans who visited Europe at the time were likely to go for the “grand” part of the grand tour: They traveled first class by propeller plane and ocean liner, steamer trunks in tow; booked pricey accommodations; went sightseeing with herds of other Americans; and retired in the evenings to hotels where, as Mr. Frommer wrote, “English fills the air” and “bridge games go on in the lobby.”

From New York Times

Now that Trump is headed back to the White House, with X’s Elon Musk in tow, there is not even a pretense of hope on that platform for anyone who voted against Trump.

From Slate

Related Words

• drag
• ferry
• haul
• lug
• tug