/toʊ/
tow
BrE /təʊ/
NAmE /toʊ/
~ sth (away)
to pull a car or boat behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain
Our car was towed away by the police.
pulldrag ◇ draw ◇ haul ◇ tow ◇ tug
These words all mean to move sth in a particular direction, especially towards or behind you.
pull to hold sth and move it in a particular direction; to hold or be attached to a vehicle and move it along behind you：
Pull the chair nearer the table.
They use oxen to pull their carts.
drag to pull sb/sth in a particular direction or behind you, usually along the ground, and especially with effort：
The sack is too heavy to lift—you’ll have to drag it.
draw (formal) to move sb/sth by pulling them/it gently; to pull a vehicle such as a carriage：
I drew my chair closer to the fire.
a horse-drawn carriage
haul to pull sb/sth to a particular place with a lot of effort：
Fishermen were hauling in their nets.
drag or haul?
You usually drag sth behind you along the ground; you usually haul sth towards you, often upwards towards you. Dragging sth often needs effort, but hauling sth always does.
tow to pull a car, boat or light plane behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain：
Our car was towed away by the police.
tug to pull sb/sth hard in a particular direction：
She tried to escape but he tugged her back.
Patterns
to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow/tug sb/sth along/down/towards sth
to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow sb/sth behind you
to pull/drag/draw/haul a cart/sledge
to pull/draw a coach/carriage
to pull/haul/tow a truck
horses pull/draw/haul sth
dogs pull/drag/haul sth
➡ see also tow bar, tow rope
tow
BrE /təʊ/
NAmE /toʊ/
[sing.]
an act of one vehicle pulling another vehicle using a rope or chain
The car broke down and we had to get somebody to give us a tow.
a tow truck
in tow
(informal)
if you have sb in tow, they are with you and following closely behind
She turned up with her mother in tow.
if a ship is taken in tow, it is pulled by another ship