tower
TOW-uh
Tower (noun) means a tall, narrow structure, either standing alone or forming part of a larger building. Example: “The clock tower is visible from most of the town.”
noun
1
A tall, narrow structure, either standing alone or forming part of a larger building.
"The clock tower is visible from most of the town."
"They climbed to the top of the tower for a view of the city."
"Pigeons nested at the top of the old stone tower beside the church."
2
A strong source of support or protection.
"My sister has been a tower of strength since I lost my job."
"In hard times, our neighbour was a real tower of support to everyone."
"She was a tower of strength for the whole family during the crisis."
verb
1
To be much taller than the people or things nearby.
"The skyscraper towers over the surrounding buildings."
"He towered over his classmates even in primary school."
"Tall pine trees tower above the little cabin in the valley."
How to use tower
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tall structure, or the act of standing much taller than what's nearby; also used figuratively for a source of great strength.
Common pairings
tower over
tower of strength
clock tower
control tower
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like tower.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- towers
- Third person singular
- towers
- Past tense
- towered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The clock _____ is visible from most of the town.
Etymology
From Old English torr and Old French tour, both ultimately from Latin turris, "a tower."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tower
See all rhymes for tower →Frequently asked questions
What does “tower” mean?
The word “tower” means a tall, narrow structure, either standing alone or forming part of a larger building. In plain terms, a tall structure, or the act of standing much taller than what's nearby; also used figuratively for a source of great strength.
How do you pronounce “tower”?
“Tower” is pronounced TOW-uh (/ˈtaʊɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tower” in a sentence?
Here is “tower” used in a sentence: “The clock tower is visible from most of the town.”
What is another word for “tower”?
Words with a similar meaning to “tower” include donjon.
What part of speech is “tower”?
Depending on how it is used, “tower” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tower” come from?
The word “tower” comes from Latin. From Old English torr and Old French tour, both ultimately from Latin turris, "a tower.".
Is “tower” a common word?
“Tower” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “tower” have?
“Tower” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall, narrow structure, either standing alone or forming part of a larger building.
What is the difference between a tower and a skyscraper?
A tower is any tall, narrow structure — it might stand alone, like a water tower, or form part of a building, like a church tower. A skyscraper is specifically a very tall, multi-story building people work or live in. All skyscrapers can be called towers, but many towers aren't skyscrapers.
What are the types of towers?
Common types include clock towers, bell towers, and church towers on buildings; water towers and cooling towers in industry; observation and radio or communication towers built for height; and defensive towers on castles and walls. Some, like the Eiffel Tower, stand alone purely as landmarks.
What does 'tower' mean as a verb?
As a verb, 'to tower' means to rise high above the surroundings or to dominate them — 'the cathedral towers over the town,' or 'he towered above his classmates.' It can describe physical height or, figuratively, superiority — a 'towering figure' in a field is someone of great stature or influence.
What is an example of a tower?
The Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Tower of London are world-famous examples. Everyday ones include church bell towers, roadside water towers, clock towers on town halls, and mobile phone towers. Each shares the defining trait of rising tall and narrow above everything around it.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include tower:
