tow

Meanings

Plural: tows

Noun

• the act of hauling something (as a vehicle) by means of a hitch or rope
  • "the truck gave him a tow to the garage"
• The act of towing and the condition of being towed.
• Something, such as a tugboat, that tows.
• Something, such as a barge, that is towed.
• A rope or cable used in towing.
• A speed increase given by driving in front of another car on a straight, which causes a slipstream for the car behind.
• An untwisted bundle of fibres such as cellulose acetate, flax, hemp or jute.
• The short, coarse, less desirable fibres separated by hackling from the finer longer fibres (line).

Verb

• drag behind
  • "Horses used to tow barges along the canal"
• To pull something behind one, such as by using a line, chain, or tongue.
• To aid someone behind by shielding them from wind resistance.

Synonyms

hards, oakum, towage

Related Words

taw