Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Towel

//ˈtaʊ(ə)l// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A cloth used for wiping, especially one used for drying anything wet, such as a person after a bath.

    "He needed a towel for wiping the slippery floor."

  2. 2
    a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To hit with a towel. transitive
  2. 2
    wipe with a towel wordnet
  3. 3
    To dry by using a towel. transitive

    "He got out of the shower and toweled himself dry."

  4. 4
    To block up (a door, etc.) with a towel, to conceal the fumes of a recreational drug. transitive

    "We would open the windows, towel the door, and turn my bedroom into an Allman Brothers concert."

  5. 5
    To beat with a stick, or "oaken towel". UK, dialectal, obsolete, transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English towayle, towel, towail, towaille, from Old French toaille (“towel”) (modern French touaille), Medieval Latin toallia, from Frankish *þwahilu (“cloth”), from Proto-Germanic *þwahaną (“to wash”). Cognate with Old High German dwahila (“towel”) (modern dialectal German Zwehle), Dutch dwaal (“towel”), dweil (“mop”), Low German Dweel (“towel”), Old English þwǣle (“band; ribbon; fillet”), Old English þwēan (“to wash”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English towayle, towel, towail, towaille, from Old French toaille (“towel”) (modern French touaille), Medieval Latin toallia, from Frankish *þwahilu (“cloth”), from Proto-Germanic *þwahaną (“to wash”). Cognate with Old High German dwahila (“towel”) (modern dialectal German Zwehle), Dutch dwaal (“towel”), dweil (“mop”), Low German Dweel (“towel”), Old English þwǣle (“band; ribbon; fillet”), Old English þwēan (“to wash”).

See also for "towel"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: towel