tower
pronunciation
How to pronounce tower in British English:
UK [ˈtaʊə(r)]
How to pronounce tower in American English:
US [ˈtaʊər]
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- Noun:
- a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
- anything tall and thin approximating the shape of a column or tower
- a powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships
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- Verb:
- appear very large or occupy a commanding position
Word Origin
- tower
- tower: [12] The ultimate source of tower is Greek túrris, a word probably from a pre-Indo- European language of the Mediterranean region. It passed into English via Latin turris and Old French tur, tor. Turret [14] comes from the Old French diminutive turet.=> turret
- tower (v.)
- c. 1400, "rise high" (implied in towered); see tower (n.). Also, of hawks, "to fly high so as to swoop down on prey" (1590s). Related: Towering.
- tower (n.1)
- Old English torr "tower, watchtower," from Latin turris "a tower, citadel, high structure" (also source of Old French tor, 11c.; Spanish, Italian torre "tower"), possibly from a pre-Indo-European Mediterranean language. Meaning "lofty pile or mass" is recorded from mid-14c. Also borrowed separately 13c. as tour, from Old French tur; the modern spelling (1520s) represents a merger of the two forms.
- tower (n.2)
- "one who tows," 1610s, agent noun from tow (v.).
Synonym
minaret pyramid dome belfry pagoda shaft onion high belltower pillar spire steeple monolith turret rise obelisk
dungeon keep fastness citadel bastille fortification stronghold refuge acropolis castle prison fortress
Example
- 1. Japan 's six top broadcasters are building the tower .
- 2. Demographic trends make london particularly suited to tower living .
- 3. China is footing the tab for the $ 200 million tower and conference center .
- 4. Drill rigs tower over the silos on farms in pennsylvania .
- 5. A new tower block is zooming up on one side , and nets hang overhead to guard against falling debris .