n.
Pronunciation: ' tau ̇ t, in sense 4 also ' tüt
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English tuten to protrude, peer; probably akin to Old English t ō tian to stick out, Norwegian tyte
Date: circa 1700
transitive verb
1 : to spy on : WATCH
2 a British : to spy out information about (as a racing stable or horse) b : to give a tip or solicit bets on (a racehorse)
3 : to solicit, peddle, or persuade importunately <not meant to tout you off the movie ― Russell Baker>
4 : to make much of : PROMOTE , TALK UP < tout ed as the summer's blockbuster movie> <the college's much tout ed women's studies program>
intransitive verb
1 : to solicit patronage
2 a chiefly British : to spy on racehorses in training to gain information for betting b : to give a tip or solicit bets on a racehorse