Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense towers, present participle towering, past tense, past participle towered
1. countable noun
A tower is a tall, narrow building, that either stands alone or forms part of another building such as a church or castle.
...an eleventh century castle with 120-foot high towers.
...the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Synonyms: column, pillar, turret, belfry More Synonyms of tower
2. verb
Someone or something that towersover surrounding people or things is a lot taller than they are.
He stood up and towered over her. [V + over/above]
At school, a girl may tower over most boys her age. [Vover/above n]
The icebergs towered above them. [Vover/above n]
Synonyms: rise, dominate, loom, top More Synonyms of tower
3. countable noun
A tower is a tall structure that is used for sending radio or television signals.
Troops are still in control of the television and radio tower.
4. countable noun
A tower is the same as a tower block.
...his design for a new office tower in Frankfurt.
5. countable noun
A tower is a tall box that contains the main parts of a computer, such as the hard disk and the drives.
[computing]
6. See also clock tower, control tower, ivory tower
7.
See tower of strength
More Synonyms of tower
tower in British English
(ˈtaʊə)
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
verb
5. (intransitive)
to be or rise like a tower; loom
Word origin
C12: from Old French tur, from Latin turris, from Greek
tower in American English1
(ˈtaʊər)
noun
1.
a building or structure that is relatively high for its length and width, either standing alone or forming part of another building
2.
such a structure used as a fortress or prison
3.
a person or thing that resembles a tower in height, strength, dominance, etc.
verb intransitive
4.
to rise high or stand high like a tower
Word origin
ME tour, tur < OE torr & OFr tur, both < L turris, a tower; akin to Gr tyrsis, fortified city
tower in American English2
(ˈtoʊər)
noun
a person or thing that tows
More idioms containing
tower
someone lives in an ivory tower
a tower of strength
Examples of 'tower' in a sentence
tower
Unlike many of their colleagues, they were not just working in ivory towers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There were early tower blocks : some successful, others not.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His team has taken down more than 150 tower blocks and about 50 hospitals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Ancient palaces and concrete tower blocks had crumbled in Kathmandu valley, where bodies were being unearthed from the rubble.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A vast tower block hotel just across from Edgware Road.
The Sun (2016)
It has lots of old buildings and towers.
The Sun (2009)
The control tower will talk you down to land.
The Sun (2010)
This goes on all the way into the ivory towers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Go straight ahead and you will see this impressive square tower on your left.
Begg, Ean & Rich, Deike On the Trail of Merlin - a guide to the Celtic mystery tradition (1991)
Workers on the upper floors of the southern tower could see people jumping.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The tower may come as a bit of a surprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Living with towers of boxes is depressing.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He has the picture of him and his father beneath the twin towers.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You could build a tower to the moon.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The shadow of the church tower nudged across the far side of the plaza mayor.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Tickets for the viewing platform of the tallest tower in the western hemisphere are now on sale.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
That and fearsome beasts toppling tower blocks like dominoes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The airport has no control tower and does not require pilots to check in with security.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
These ivory tower dwellers have no idea of the real world.
The Sun (2014)
He was physically large and tended to tower over people.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She may make a tower of these cells.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The door of the colonial church and bell tower is sealed with a rusty padlock.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The simulator mimics the view, equipment and layout of the new control tower building.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That box is culled from two floor-to-ceiling towers of boxes that he keeps in his cell.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The bedroom is set in a circular stone tower, with a shaded spa bath ingeniously hidden in the base.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A tower rises from the ground, surrounded by mirrors.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Then we clambered up the square tower's dark staircase and two ladders to reach the top, catch our breath and gasp at the splendid view.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
tower
British English: tower /ˈtaʊə/ NOUN
A tower is a tall narrow structure that is often part of a castle.
...a castle with high towers.
American English: tower
Arabic: بُرْج
Brazilian Portuguese: torre
Chinese: 塔
Croatian: toranj
Czech: věž
Danish: tårn
Dutch: toren gebouw
European Spanish: torre
Finnish: torni
French: tour bâtiment
German: Turm
Greek: πύργος
Italian: torre
Japanese: 塔
Korean: 탑
Norwegian: tårn
Polish: wieża
European Portuguese: torre
Romanian: turn
Russian: башня
Latin American Spanish: torre
Swedish: torn
Thai: ตึกสูง
Turkish: kule
Ukrainian: вежа
Vietnamese: tháp
British English: tower VERB
Someone or something that towers over surrounding people or things is a lot taller than they are.
He stood up and towered over her.
American English: tower
Brazilian Portuguese: elevar-se
Chinese: 高出许多
European Spanish: elevarse
French: se dresser
German: aufragen
Italian: torreggiare
Japanese: そびえる
Korean: 키가 훨씬 크다
European Portuguese: elevar-se
Latin American Spanish: elevarse
All related terms of 'tower'
bell tower
a tower containing a bell or bells; belfry
clock tower
A clock tower is a tall, narrow building with a clock at the top.
fire tower
a tower , usually in a forest , where a lookout is posted to watch for fires and give the alarm
ivory tower
If you describe someone as living in an ivory tower , you mean that they have no knowledge or experience of the practical problems of everyday life.
peel tower
(in Britain) a fortified tower of the 16th century on the borders between England and Scotland, built to withstand raids
round tower
a freestanding circular stone belfry built in Ireland from the 10th century beside a monastery and used as a place of refuge
shot tower
a building formerly used in the production of shot , in which molten lead was graded and dropped from a great height into water, thus cooling it and forming the shot
Texas tower
an offshore platform erected on firm foundations or steel legs planted deeply in the sea bottom: used for supporting radar installations , navigation beacons , etc.
tower block
A tower block is a tall building divided into flats or offices.
tower crane
a rotatable cantilever jib on top of a steelwork tower used on building sites where the operator needs to command a good view of the site
water tower
A water tower is a large tank of water which is placed on a high metal structure so that water can be supplied at a steady pressure to surrounding buildings.
conning tower
a superstructure of a submarine , used as the bridge when the vessel is on the surface
control tower
A control tower is a building at an airport from which instructions are given to aircraft when they are taking off or landing . You can also refer to the people who work in a control tower as the control tower .
cooling tower
A cooling tower is a very large, round , high building which is used to cool water from factories or power stations .
Eiffel Tower
a tower in Paris : designed by A. G . Eiffel ; erected for the 1889 Paris Exposition . Height : 300 m (984 ft), raised in 1959 to 321 m (1052 ft)
mooring tower
a mast or tower to which a balloon or airship may be moored
packed tower
A packed tower is a tall distillation vessel which uses packing .
signal tower
a tower from which railway signals are controlled or displayed
Tower Hamlets
a borough of E Greater London , on the River Thames : contains the main part of the East End. Pop: 206 600 (2003 est). Area: 20 sq km (8 sq miles)
Martello tower
a small circular tower for coastal defence , formerly much used in Europe
observation tower
a tall narrow tower that provides a panoramic view
Tower of Babel
a tower presumptuously intended to reach from earth to heaven , the building of which was frustrated when Jehovah confused the language of the builders ( Genesis 11:1–9)
Tower of London
a fortress in the City of London , on the River Thames : begun 1078; later extended and used as a palace , the main state prison , and now as a museum containing the crown jewels
tower of strength
If you refer to someone as a tower of strength , you appreciate them because they give you a lot of help, support, and encouragement when you have problems or are in a difficult situation.
traffic control tower
an elevated structure for the visual observation and control of the air and ground traffic at an airport
a tower of strength
someone who gives you a lot of help or support during a difficult period of your life
Leaning Tower of Pisa
bell tower in Pisa , Italy, which leans approx. 10° from the vertical
crude oil splitting tower
A crude oil splitting tower is a vessel into which crude oil enters , at the bottom , and where the different components are obtained by a splitting process, rather than rearranging the molecules .
the Leaning Tower of Pisa
the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral
vacuum tower reduced crude oil
Vacuum tower reduced crude oil is oil after it has been processed in a vacuum tower (= a vessel in which reduced pressure is used) to separate its components further, especially the bottom , heavier fractions .
someone lives in an ivory tower
said to mean that someone's lifestyle or their work prevents them from experiencing the problems experienced by ordinary people, and so they remain generally unaware of these problems
Babel
If there is a babel of voices, you hear a lot of people talking at the same time, so that you cannot understand what they are saying .
Chinese translation of 'tower'
tower
(ˈtauəʳ)
n(c)
塔 (tǎ) (座, zuò)
vi
[building, mountain]耸(聳)立 (sǒnglì)
to tower above or over sb/sth比某人/某物高得多 (bǐ mǒurén/mǒuwù gāo de duō)
All related terms of 'tower'
cell tower
信号(號)塔 xìnhào tǎ [ 座 zuò ]
tower block
高楼(樓)大厦(廈) gāolóu dàshà [ 座 zuò ]
control tower
指挥(揮)调(調)度台(臺) zhǐhuīdiàodùtái [ 间(間) jiān ]
to tower above or over sb/sth
比某人/某物高得多 bǐ mǒurén/mǒuwù gāo de duō
a tower exactly 10 metres in height
一座正好10米高的塔 yī zuò zhènghǎo shí mǐ gāo de tǎ
1 (noun)
Definition
a tall, usually square or circular structure, sometimes part of a larger building and usually built for a specific purpose
an eleventh-century house with 120-foot high towers
Synonyms
column
Great stone steps led past Greek columns to the main building.
pillar
the pillars supporting the roof
turret
belfry
steeple
The church had a steeple, a bell tower and a clock.
obelisk
The obelisk was erected in his memory in 1812.
2 (noun)
Definition
a tall, usually square or circular structure, sometimes part of a larger building and usually built for a specific purpose
troops occupied the first two floors of the tower
Synonyms
stronghold
Shetland is the last stronghold of otters in the British Isles.
castle
They were given a guided tour of the medieval castle.
fort
Soldiers inside the fort are under sustained attack.
refuge
keep
the parts of the keep open to visitors
fortress
a 13th-century fortress
citadel
The citadel at Besançon towered above the river.
fortification
troops stationed just behind the fortification
(verb)
Definition
to be much taller than
The coach stood up and towered over them.
Synonyms
rise
The building rose before him.
dominate
loom
He loomed over me.
top
How are you ever going to top that?
mount
rear
The exhibition hall reared above me behind a high fence.
soar
The steeple soars skyward.
overlook
surpass
He was determined to surpass the achievements of his older brothers.
transcend
ascend
They ascended 55,900 feet in their balloon.
be head and shoulders above
overtop
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ascend
Definition
to go or move up
They ascended 55,900 feet in their balloon.
Synonyms
float up,
rise,
climb,
tower,
go up,
take off,
soar,
lift off,
fly up
in the sense of castle
Definition
a large fortified building or set of buildings, often built as a residence for a ruler or nobleman in medieval Europe
They were given a guided tour of the medieval castle.
Synonyms
fortress,
keep,
palace,
tower,
peel,
chateau,
stronghold,
citadel,
fastness,
donjon
in the sense of citadel
Definition
a fortress in a city
The citadel at Besançon towered above the river.
Synonyms
fortress,
keep,
tower,
stronghold,
bastion,
fortification,
fastness
Synonyms of 'tower'
tower
Explore 'tower' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fort
Definition
a fortified building or position
Soldiers inside the fort are under sustained attack.
Synonyms
fortress,
keep,
station,
camp,
tower,
castle,
garrison,
stronghold,
citadel,
fortification,
redoubt,
fastness,
blockhouse,
fortified pa (New Zealand)
in the sense of fortification
troops stationed just behind the fortification
Synonyms
defence,
keep,
protection,
castle,
fort,
fortress,
stronghold,
bastion,
citadel,
bulwark,
fastness,
fortified pa (New Zealand)
in the sense of fortress
Definition
a large fort or fortified town
a 13th-century fortress
Synonyms
castle,
fort,
stronghold,
citadel,
redoubt,
fastness,
fortified pa (New Zealand)
in the sense of keep
Definition
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
the parts of the keep open to visitors
Synonyms
tower,
castle,
stronghold,
dungeon,
citadel,
fastness,
donjon
in the sense of loom
Definition
to appear indistinctly, esp. as a tall and threatening shape
He loomed over me.
Synonyms
overhang,
rise,
mount,
dominate,
tower,
soar,
overshadow,
hang over,
rise up,
overtop
in the sense of obelisk
Definition
a four-sided stone pillar that tapers to a pyramid at the top
The obelisk was erected in his memory in 1812.
Synonyms
column,
shaft,
monument,
pillar,
monolith,
needle
in the sense of pillar
Definition
an upright support of stone, brick, or metal
the pillars supporting the roof
Synonyms
support,
post,
column,
piling,
prop,
shaft,
upright,
pier,
obelisk,
stanchion,
pilaster
in the sense of rear
The exhibition hall reared above me behind a high fence.
Synonyms
rise,
tower,
soar,
loom
in the sense of soar
Definition
to rise or increase suddenly above the usual level
The steeple soars skyward.
Synonyms
tower,
rise,
climb,
go up
in the sense of steeple
Definition
a tall ornamental tower on a church roof
The church had a steeple, a bell tower and a clock.
Synonyms
spire,
tower,
belfry
Additional synonyms
in the sense of surpass
Definition
to be greater in extent than or superior in achievement to (something or someone)
He was determined to surpass the achievements of his older brothers.