[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/tug/)

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# tug

verb (tug, tugs, tugged, tugging); noun (a tug, tugs)

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

## Everyday

1. To tug is to pull something suddenly and firmly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#m1)
2. A tug is a quick, strong pull. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#m2)
3. A tug (or tugboat) is a small, strong boat that pushes and pulls big ships in a harbour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#m3)
4. «A tug at your heart» is a sudden sad or loving feeling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#m4)

### In the lessons

In PE and play, «tug of war» is a game where two teams pull a rope in opposite directions. In science, a tug is a pulling force; the stronger force wins. In stories, a child tugs at a parent's sleeve to get attention. Phrases: «tug of war», «tug at», «give it a tug», «tug at your heartstrings».

### Examples

- She tugged my sleeve to show me the rainbow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#x1)
- Our class won the tug of war. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#x2)
- Give the rope a good tug. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#x3)
- A tug pushed the big ship into the dock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#x4)
- The dog tugged on its lead. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#x5)
- The sad film gave my heart a tug. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#x6)
- Pulling with more force helps your team in a tug of war. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#x7)
- At last young Lambton felt a mighty tug at his line. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tug/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb but double the g: tugged, tugging. A tug is short and firm; a «pull» can be long and steady. «Tug of war» has no hyphens in most British use.

## On Mova

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