tower Definition

tow¹
verb towed, towing

1. To pull (a ship, barge, car, trailer, caravan, etc) by rope, chain, cable, etc behind the vehicle one is driving.

Thesaurus: transport, haul, pull, lug, drag, tote.
2. Said of a vehicle: to pull (a ship, barge, car, etc) along by rope, chain or cable.

noun

1. An act or the process of towing; the state of being towed.
2. Something towed, eg a car.


Example: a tow-rope

Derivative: towable
adj

Derivative: towed
adj

Derivative: tower
noun

Derivative: towing
adj, noun

Idiom: in tow

Said of a vehicle: being towed.

Said of a person: following or accompanying as a companion or escort.
Example: She arrived late with several men in tow

Idiom: on tow

Said of a vehicle: being towed.

Idiom: under tow

Said of a vessel: being towed.

Idiom: take someone in tow

To put them under one's protection, guidance, control, etc.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon togian.

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tower
noun

1a. A tall narrow structure, usually circular or square in shape, that often forms part of a larger lower building such as a church or castle;

Thesaurus: steeple, belfry, turret, , lighthouse, obelisk.
1b. A tall free-standing structure built for a specified purpose, such as for defence, as a lookout, for housing machinery, etc.

Example: a control tower
2. A fortress, especially one with one or more towers.

Example: the Tower of London

verb, intr towered, towering

1. To reach a great height, or rise high above it or them.

Thesaurus: rise, soar, loom.
Form: tower above something (usually)
Form: tower above someone
2. To be considerably taller than them or to be intellectually superior to them.

Thesaurus: surpass, transcend, exceed, dominate, eclipse.
Form: tower over someone (usually)

Derivative: towered
adj

Derivative: towering

See separate entry.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon torr.