| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024un•der•tow /ˈʌndɚˌtoʊ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- Oceanographythe current of water towards the sea and usually under the surface, from waves breaking on a beach and flowing back.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024un•der•tow (un′dər tō′),USA pronunciation n. - Oceanographythe seaward, subsurface flow or draft of water from waves breaking on a beach.
- Oceanographyany strong current below the surface of a body of water, moving in a direction different from that of the surface current.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Undertow, underset, riptide are terms for a usually strong undercurrent in the ocean, contrary to the direction of surface water. Undertow and another nautical term, underset (a set or current contrary to the general set of the water, or contrary to the wind), came into notice early in the 19th century. The former is still in general use along the Atlantic coast; the latter now less well known. Rip, in use in the U.S. by the late 18th century, properly means a violently disturbed place in a body of water, usually by the meeting of opposing tides. Of recent years, in the form riptide, it has also been used, esp. on the Pacific coast, to mean much the same as undertow, dangerous to bathers where heavy surf prevails.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: undertow /ˈʌndəˌtəʊ/ n - the seaward undercurrent following the breaking of a wave on the beach
- any strong undercurrent flowing in a different direction from the surface current
tow1 /toʊ/USA pronunciation v. [~ + object]- to pull or haul (a car, etc.) by a rope, chain, etc.:They towed my car to the garage.
n. [countable] - an act or instance of towing.
- something towed.
- something, as a boat or truck, that tows.
- Sportski tow.
Idioms- Idioms in tow:
- Also, under tow. in the state of being towed:The ship returned to port in tow of a tugboat.
- under one's guidance;
in one's charge:The teacher entered the museum with her class in tow. - (following one) as a follower, admirer, or companion:The movie star walked down the street, autograph hounds in tow.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024tow1 (tō),USA pronunciation v.t. - to pull or haul (a car, barge, trailer, etc.) by a rope, chain, or other device:The car was towed to the service station.
n. - an act or instance of towing.
- something being towed.
- something, as a boat or truck, that tows.
- a rope, chain, metal bar, or other device for towing:The trailer is secured to the car by a metal tow.
- See ski tow.
- in tow:
- in the state of being towed.
- under one's guidance;
in one's charge. - as a follower, admirer, or companion:a professor who always had a graduate student in tow.
- under tow, in the condition of being towed;
in tow.
- bef. 1000; Middle English towen (verb, verbal), Old English togian to pull by force, drag; cognate with Middle High German zogen to draw, tug, drag. See tug
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged trail, draw, tug.
tow2 (tō),USA pronunciation n. - the fiber of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning by scutching.
- the shorter, less desirable flax fibers separated from line fibers in hackling.
- synthetic filaments prior to spinning.
adj. - made of tow.
- 1300–50; Middle English; Old English tōw- (in tōwlīc pertaining to thread, tōwhūs spinning house); akin to Old Norse tō wool
- a rope.
- 1425–75; late Middle English (Scots); Old English toh- (in tohlīne towline); cognate with Old Norse tog towline. See tow1
- Militarya U.S. Army antitank missile, steered to its target by two thin wires connected to a computerized launcher, which is mounted on a vehicle or helicopter.
- t(ube-launched,) o(ptically-guided,) w(ire-tracked missile)
|