tow: Meaning and Definition of

tow

Pronunciation: (tō), [key]
— v.t.
  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.
—n.
  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. See ski tow.
  6. a professor who always had a graduate student 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.
  7. in the condition of being towed; in tow.

tow

Pronunciation: (tō), [key]
— n.
  1. the fiber of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning by scutching.
  2. the shorter, less desirable flax fibers separated from line fibers in hackling.
  3. synthetic filaments prior to spinning.
—adj.
  1. made of tow.

tow

Pronunciation: (tō), [key]
— n. Scot.
  1. a rope.

TOW

Pronunciation: (tō), [key]
— n.
  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.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • tow (Thesaurus)