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towel definition

towel (to̵u′əl)

noun

a piece of absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying things, or for drying oneself after washing or bathing a dish towel, a bath towel

Etymology: ME towaille < OFr toaille (Fr touaille) < Frank *thwahlja, akin to OHG dwahila, towel < dwahan, to wash < IE base *twak-, to bathe > OProv twaxtan, bath towel

transitive verb toweled -·eled or towelled -·elled, toweling -·el·ing or towelling -·el·ling

to wipe or dry with a towel
towel Idioms

throw in the towel

or toss in the towel
Informal to admit defeat

towel off

to dry oneself, as after bathing

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms towel idiom

towel Synonyms

towel

n.

wiper, drier, absorbent paper, sheet, toweling, napkin, cloth, rag*.

Kinds of towels include: linen, cotton, huckaback, terry, guest, face, Turkish, hand, fingertip, beach, bath sheet, bath, kitchen, dish, tea, paper, napkin.

throw in the towel*

admit defeat, give in, surrender; see yield 3.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

towel Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • launder: Freshly laundered towels are included in the letting price.

Adjective modifier

  • sanitary: You should bring a sanitary towel with you to the hospital.

Modifies a noun

  • rail/radiator: A further bedroom comprises a double bed, wardrobe and drawers and a heated towel rail/radiator.

Noun used with modifier

  • tea: A new design of tea towel is now on sale.
towel usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"towel." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/towel>

APA Style

towel. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/towel

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