Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

tower

1

[ tou-er ]

noun

  1. a building or structure high in proportion to its lateral dimensions, either isolated or forming part of a building.
  2. such a structure used as or intended for a stronghold, fortress, prison, etc.
  3. any of various fully enclosed fireproof housings for vertical communications, as staircases, between the stories of a building.
  4. any structure, contrivance, or object that resembles or suggests a tower.
  5. a tall, movable structure used in ancient and medieval warfare in storming a fortified place.
  6. Computers. a tall, vertical case with accessible horizontal drive bays, designed to house a computer system standing on a desk or floor. Compare minitower.
  7. Aviation. control tower.


verb (used without object)

  1. to rise or extend far upward, as a tower; reach or stand high:

    The skyscraper towers above the city.

  2. to rise above or surpass others:

    She towers above the other students.

  3. Falconry. (of a hawk) to rise straight into the air; to ring up.

tower

2

[ toh-er ]

noun

  1. a person or thing that tows.

tower

/ ˈٲʊə /

noun

  1. a tall, usually square or circular structure, sometimes part of a larger building and usually built for a specific purpose

    a church tower

    a control tower

  2. a place of defence or retreat
  3. a mobile structure used in medieval warfare to attack a castle, etc
  4. tower of strength
    a person who gives support, comfort, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. intr to be or rise like a tower; loom
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ٴǷİ· adjective
  • ٴǷİ· adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of tower1

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun tour, earlier tur, tor, from Old French tur, tor, from Latin turris, from Greek ý, variant of ý “tǷɱ”; Middle English tor perhaps continuing Old English torr, from Latin turris, as above

Origin of tower2

First recorded in 1485–95; tow 1 + -er 1
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of tower1

C12: from Old French tur, from Latin turris, from Greek
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. tower of strength, a person who can be relied on for support, aid, or comfort, especially in times of difficulty.

More idioms and phrases containing tower

In addition to the idiom beginning with tower , also see ivory tower
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Travel round Chinese provinces and you see they are littered with empty projects – lines of towering concrete shells that have been labelled "ghost cities".

From

Its main military base, featuring concrete blast walls, watch and communication towers and space for armoured personnel carriers to move inside, is much more developed than the smaller outposts around Sergele.

From

Edison has been under scrutiny since Jan. 7, when videos captured the devastating Eaton wildfire igniting under one of its transmission towers.

From

Dressed in a revealing keyhole dress and towering beehive wig, Carpenter comes to Simon Says for the ambience and the chance to dress in drag.

From

Construction equipment whines as workers erect towering bleachers in a downtown park.

From

Advertisement

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


towel railtower block