noun
towel
TOW-uhl
noun
1
A piece of absorbent cloth used for drying the body or wiping surfaces.
"She wrapped herself in a towel after the shower."
verb
1
To dry something using a towel.
"He toweled off his hair before heading out."
How to Use Towel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cloth for drying yourself or something else, or the act of drying with one.
Common mistake
"Throw in the towel" means to give up — it comes from boxing, where a trainer throws a towel into the ring to stop the fight.
Common pairings
throw in the towel
beach towel
towel off
Word Forms
toweled past tense, towelled past tense, towels plural, towels singular
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She wrapped herself in a _____ after the shower.
Etymology
From Old French toaille, ultimately from a Frankish word related to "washing."