verb
tug
tuhg
verb
1
To pull at something with a sharp or sustained effort.
"The toddler tugged at her mother's sleeve, wanting attention."
"He tugged on the rope to make sure the knot would hold."
noun
1
A sudden, forceful pull.
"She felt a tug on the fishing line and reeled it in."
2
Short for tugboat.
"A tug guided the tanker carefully into the harbour."
How to Use Tug
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pull, often sharply or repeatedly.
Common pairings
tug of war
tug at
give a tug
Word Forms
tugged past tense, tugs plural, tugs plural, tugs singular
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She felt a _____ on the fishing line and reeled it in.
Etymology
From Old English togian ("to drag, draw"), related to "tow" and going back to an ancient root meaning "to pull."