tow
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++tow1 /təʊ $ toʊ/ ●○○ verb [transitive] TTPULLto pull a vehicle or ship along behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain 牵引，拖，拉〔车或船〕 The ship had to be towed into the harbor. 那艘轮船不得不被拖进港口。tow something away Our car had been towed away. 我们的车被拖走了。► see thesaurus at pull →5 see picture at 见图 truck1→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
tow• A final decision will be made once the stricken destroyer is towed away.• Power surfers are towed behind a jet-ski into massive oceanic swells that move too fast to catch by paddling conventional surfboards.• I towed her over to the muddy shore and flung her aboard Flupper.• The lifeguard boat offered to tow his board out through the pounding break.• The police had towed his car away because it was blocking the road.• Their yacht was also towed in.• He often towed it to Lake Whitney, near Waco.• Their target was a specific spot where, earlier, a towed temperature probe had measured a spike of warm water.• The damaged ship was towed to the nearest port.• What's the speed limit for cars towing trailers?tow something away• When I came back the car had been towed away.tow2 noun 1 [countable]TTPULL an act of pulling a vehicle behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain 〔对车船等的〕牵引，拖，拉 Can you give us a tow to the garage? 你能帮我们把车拖到修车厂吗？ →5 see picture at 见图 truck12 in tow informalFOLLOW following closely behind someone or something 紧跟在后 Hannah arrived with her four kids in tow. 汉娜到了，后面跟着她的四个孩子。 He turned up at my office with two lawyers in tow. 他出现在我的办公室，身后跟着两名律师。3. take something in tow TTto connect a rope or a chain to a vehicle or ship so that it can be towed 〔用绳索或链条〕拖着〔车或船〕4. under/on tow British EnglishTT if a ship is under tow or a car is on tow, it is being pulled along by another vehicle 〔船或车〕被拖着走Examples from the Corpus
tow• I seized the chance to ask for a tow, anything to get us clear of that suicidal place.• Many enjoy the festival so much that they return season after season, with spouses and children in tow.• Sometimes they came alone, sometimes with a man in tow - to foot the bill!• In April 1986 our 29-year-old son met a lorry coming from the opposite direction with a very heavy utility trailer in tow.Origin tow1 Old English togiana or along to pull ship Corpus vehicle
tow
tow1 /təʊ $ toʊ/ 
verb [transitive]
The ship had to be towed into the harbor.
tow something away
Our car had been towed away
▪ pull to make something or someone move in the direction that your hands are moving: He pulled her towards him and kissed her. | Sam was pulling on his socks.
▪tug to pull something suddenly with a short quick movement, often to get someone’s attention: ‘Look,’ he said, tugging at his brother’s sleeve. | I tugged at the drawer but it wouldn’t open.
▪drag to pull something along the ground, especially because it is heavy: If we can’t lift the piano, we’ll have to drag it.
▪haul to pull something big and heavy using a lot of effort, especially upwards and using a rope: They hauled their boats further up the beach. | fishermen hauling in their nets
▪heave to pull or lift something very heavy, especially with one movement: He heaved the sack of sand onto his shoulder.
▪draw formal to pull something or someone gently in a particular direction: Lisa reached for his hand but he drew it away.
▪pull to be attached to a vehicle or piece of machinery and make it move behind you in the direction you are going: Ten dogs were pulling a sledge over the ice. | a tractor pulling a plough
▪tow to pull a vehicle behind – used about a vehicle, a boat, or a horse pulling something using a rope or chain: The car in front of us was towing a caravan. | Horses were used to tow the boats along the canals.
▪draw to pull a vehicle such as a carriage – used especially about horses doing this: a carriage drawn by four horses | a horse-drawn cart
tow2 noun
1. [countable] an act of pulling a vehicle behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain:
Can you give us a tow to the garage?
2. in tow informal following closely behind someone or something:
Hannah arrived with her four kids in tow.
He turned up at my office with two lawyers in tow.
3. take something in tow to connect a rope or a chain to a vehicle or ship so that it can be towed
4. under/on tow British English if a ship is under tow or a car is on tow, it is being pulled along by another vehicle
| I |
verb [transitive] Language: Old English
Origin: togian
to pull a vehicle or ship along behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain:Origin: togian
tow something away
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
noun1. [countable] an act of pulling a vehicle behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain:
2. in tow informal following closely behind someone or something:
3. take something in tow to connect a rope or a chain to a vehicle or ship so that it can be towed
4. under/on tow British English if a ship is under tow or a car is on tow, it is being pulled along by another vehicle
pull to hold sth and move it in a particular direction; to hold or be attached to a vehicle and move it along behind you 指向某方向拖、拉、牵引 ：◆ Pull the chair nearer the table. 把椅子再往桌子这边拉近些。 ◆ They use oxen to pull their carts. 他们用牛拉车。 drag to pull sb/sth in a particular direction or behind you, usually along the ground, and especially with effort 通常指使劲在地上拖、拉、拽 ：◆ The sack is too heavy to lift—you'll have to drag it. 这麻袋太重了，提不起来。你得拖着走。 draw ( to move sb/sth by pulling them/it gently; to pull a vehicle such as a carriage指拖动、拉动、牵引、拖车 ：◆ I drew my chair closer to the fire. 我把椅子向火旁拉近了点。 ◆ a horse-drawn carriage马车 haul to pull sb/sth to a particular place with a lot of effort 指用力拖、拉、拽 ：◆ Fishermen were hauling in their nets. 渔民在拉网。
drag or haul? 用 drag 还是 haul？
tow to pull a car, boat or light plane behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain 指用绳索拖、拉、牵引（汽车、船或轻型飞机） ：◆ Our car was towed away by the police. 我们的汽车被警察拖走了。 tug to pull sb/sth hard in a particular direction 指朝某一方向用力拖、拉、拽 ：◆ She tried to escape but he tugged her back. 她试图逃跑，但他把她拽了回来。
Patterns
to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow/tug sb/sth along/down/towards sthto pull/drag/draw/haul/tow sb/sth behind you to pull/drag/draw/haul a cart/sledge to pull/draw a coach/carriage to pull/haul/tow a truck horses pull/draw/haul sthdogs pull/drag/haul sth
