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Meaning of tug in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /təɡ/

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  1. Verb

    tug

    Etymology

    Middle English: from the base of tow. The noun is first recorded (late Middle English) in tug (sense 3 of the noun)

    Definitions

    1. pull hard

    Examples

    • « The prisoner tugged at the chains »
    • « This movie tugs at the heart strings »

    Derived terms

    • dragger
    • jerk
    • puller
    • tugger
  2. 2. strive and make an effort to reach a goal

    Examples

    • « She tugged for years to make a decent living »
    • « We have to push a little to make the deadline! »
    • « She is driving away at her doctoral thesis »

    Derived terms

    • campaign
    • cause
    • crusade
    • drive
    • effort
    • energy
    • get-up-and-go
    • jack
    • labor
    • laborer
    • labour
    • labourer
    • manual laborer
    • movement
    • project
    • push
    • task
    • toil
    • undertaking
  3. 3. tow (a vessel) with a tug

    Examples

    • « The tugboat tugged the freighter into the harbor »

    Derived terms

    • dragger
    • puller
    • towboat
    • tower
    • tugboat
    • tugger
  4. 4. carry with difficulty

    Examples

    • « You'll have to lug this suitcase »

    Derived terms

    • baggage
    • bearer
    • carrier
    • carryall
    • holdall
    • luggage
    • tote
    • toter
    • tote bag
  5. 5. move by pulling hard

    Examples

    • « The horse finally tugged the cart out of the mud »

    Derived terms

    • dragger
    • jerk
    • puller
    • tugger
  6. 6. pull or strain hard at

    Examples

    • « Each oar was tugged by several men »

    Derived terms

    • jerk
  7. 7. struggle in opposition

    Examples

    • « She tugged and wrestled with her conflicts »
  8. Noun

    tug

    Definitions

    1. a sudden abrupt pull

    Derived terms

    • jerk
    • twitch
    • yank
  9. 2. a powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships

    Derived terms

    • tow

Famous quotes

  • « I hope to one day co-sign a lease with another person but, well, it doesn't plague me that I have yet to do so. Put it this way: I've never had to violently tug at my own pillow at 2 A.M. to get myself to stop snoring. »
    Sloane Crosley
  • « I will not play tug o' war. I'd rather play hug o' war. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins. »
    Shel Silverstein
  • « It's an interesting combination: Having a great fear of being alone, and having a desperate need for solitude and the solitary experience. That's always been a tug of war for me. »
    Jodie Foster
  • « You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals. »
    George S. Patton

Browse dictionary

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