Tug

/tʌg/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a strong pull or tug.

He gave the rope a firm tug to see if it was secure.

a small, powerful boat used to tow larger vessels.

The tug maneuvered alongside the cargo ship to assist it into the harbor.

verb

to pull or drag something with a sharp or sudden movement.

She had to tug the stubborn suitcase out of the trunk.

to exert a strong influence or pull on something.

The child felt a tug in her heart when she saw the abandoned puppy.

Middle English, from Old Norse 'tog' meaning 'to pull.'

tug at someone's heartstrings

to evoke deep emotions in someone

tug of war

a contest in which teams pull on opposite ends of a rope

tug the forelock

to show respect or deference

pull

to exert force on something to move it toward oneself

tow

to pull a vehicle or boat behind another vehicle

jerk

to pull something suddenly

To engage in a sexual act (often referring to masturbation)

He decided to tug one out before going to sleep.

To leave quickly or suddenly

Let's tug out of here before the cops arrive.