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# tow

verb (tow, tows, towed, towing); noun (a tow, tows)

«tow» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To tow something is to pull it behind a vehicle or boat, using a rope, chain or bar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#m1)
2. A tow is the act of towing, as in "give someone a tow". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#m2)
3. "In tow" means following closely behind, as in "with three children in tow". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#m3)
4. The tough, rough fibre of flax or hemp, combed out before it is spun into thread. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, a breakdown truck tows a broken-down car, and cars tow caravans and trailers. In road safety and parking, a car parked illegally can be towed away. In science, towing is a pulling force. Phrases: "tow truck", "tow away", "give someone a tow", "in tow", "tow rope".

### Examples

- The tow truck towed our car to the garage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#x1)
- Dad's car tows the caravan on holiday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#x2)
- If you park there, your car will be towed away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#x3)
- The tractor gave the stuck car a tow out of the mud. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#x4)
- Mum arrived with all five of us in tow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#x5)
- The boat towed the water-skier across the lake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#x6)
- When they saw the wee bannock come in, they jumped up, and got behind the goodwife, that was carding tow by the fire. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: towed. Homophone: toe (on your foot). Trap: it is "in tow" (following), not "in toe"; but "toe the line" (obey rules) uses toe. A tow truck is also called a breakdown truck (UK) or wrecker (US).

## In Jewish tradition

Samson snaps his bonds as easily as a thread of tow touched by fire, and in Isaiah it pictures the wicked burning up.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads Samson's strength as a gift of God's spirit. Isaiah's image shows that the mighty who rely on themselves are as weak as tow.

### Examples

- And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. (Prophets ISA.1.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tow/#x1)
- And she said unto him: 'The Philistines are upon thee, Samson.' And he broke the bowstrings as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. (Prophets JDG.16.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tow/#x2)

### Note

Regular verb: towed. Homophone: toe (on your foot). Trap: it is "in tow" (following), not "in toe"; but "toe the line" (obey rules) uses toe. A tow truck is also called a breakdown truck (UK) or wrecker (US).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «tow» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tow/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tow» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tow.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «tow» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tow/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tow» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/tow.html) on Mova free.