/ təʊ; NAmE toʊ/ verb , noun
■ verb
[ vn ] to pull a car or boat behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain :
Our car was towed away by the police.
—see also tow bar , tow rope ➡ note at pull
■ noun
[ sing. ] an act of one vehicle pulling another vehicle using a rope or chain :
The car broke down and we had to get somebody to give us a tow.
a tow truck
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IDIOMS
- in tow
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English togian draw, drag , of Germanic origin; related to tug . The noun dates from the early 17th cent.