tow

To tow something means to pull it behind you, usually with a vehicle or boat. Think of a tow truck rescuing a stranded car; that truck is towing the car to safety. But you do not always need a machine. You can also tow a small sailboat with a rope, or even pull your little brother on a sled, though he might not enjoy it. The thing being pulled is towed. The main idea is moving something by pulling it along behind.

The word tow describes the act of pulling or dragging something behind, usually with a vehicle or boat. It is not just a quick pull; it usually suggests moving something over some distance. For example: "The tugboat towed the massive oil tanker into port," or "A tow truck arrived to haul away the wrecked car."

As a verb, tow means to exert force in order to move something along. You might tow a trailer with your pickup truck, or tow a water skier behind a speedboat.

The word can also be used as a noun, referring to the act or service of pulling. "The boat needed a tow after running out of gas." The object being pulled is said to be towed.

Historically, tow also referred to a strong fiber made from flax or hemp, used for making rope and canvas—but this meaning is less common today.

So whether it's rescuing a broken-down vehicle, navigating a large ship, or enjoying watersports, tow always involves the application of force to move something else along behind you.