noun
tugboat
TUHG-boht
noun
1
A small, powerful boat used to tow or push larger ships, especially in harbours.
"A tugboat nudged the cargo ship gently against the dock."
How to Use Tugboat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small but powerful boat that pushes or pulls larger ships in and out of port.
Common pairings
tugboat captain
tugboat crew
Word Forms
tugboats plural
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A _____ nudged the cargo ship gently against the dock.
Etymology
A compound of tug + boat, describing a small vessel built to tug — that is, tow — much larger ones.