tug1 verbtug2 noun
tugtug1 /tʌɡ/ ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle tugged, present participle tugging) 
VERB TABLE
tug
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | tug |
| he, she, it | tugs | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | tugged |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have tugged |
| he, she, it | has tugged | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had tugged |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will tug |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have tugged |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am tugging |
| he, she, it | is tugging | |
| you, we, they | are tugging | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was tugging |
| you, we, they | were tugging | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been tugging |
| he, she, it | has been tugging | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been tugging |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be tugging |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been tugging |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Come on," Alice said, tugging at his hand.
- The little girl was tugging her mother's sleeve, trying to get her attention.
- We tugged at the door but it still wouldn't open.
- As if reading his mind Maggie tugged him across in front of her so that he could comfort his wife.
- As they tugged it straight the wind bellied it out, taut as a sail.
- But he had worked one hand loose and he made a leap as Jack tugged.
- Marine biologists used to study life in the ocean deeps by tugging nets behind boats and examining what they dragged up.
- She tugged at her skirt and adjusted her waistband.
- She tugged it off the body.
- Then, just when it seemed to have settled, it made a sharp sideways movement, tugging against the halter.
- You have to tug a little to break the seal, and then the door opens.
THESAURUS
to make something or someone move in the direction that your hands are moving: · He pulled her towards him and kissed her.· Sam was pulling on his socks.
to pull something suddenly with a short quick movement, often to get someone’s attention: · ‘Look,’ he said, tugging at his brother’s sleeve.· I tugged at the drawer but it wouldn’t open.
to pull something along the ground, especially because it is heavy: · If we can’t lift the piano, we’ll have to drag it.
to pull something big and heavy using a lot of effort, especially upwards and using a rope: · They hauled their boats further up the beach.· fishermen hauling in their nets
to pull or lift something very heavy, especially with one movement: · He heaved the sack of sand onto his shoulder.
formal to pull something or someone gently in a particular direction: · Lisa reached for his hand but he drew it away.
to be attached to a vehicle or piece of machinery and make it move behind you in the direction you are going: · Ten dogs were pulling a sledge over the ice.· a tractor pulling a plough
to pull a vehicle behind – used about a vehicle, a boat, or a horse pulling something using a rope or chain: · The car in front of us was towing a caravan.· Horses were used to tow the boats along the canals.
to pull a vehicle such as a carriage – used especially about horses doing this: · a carriage drawn by four horses· a horse-drawn cart
Longman Language Activatorto pull something with your hands to hold something and make it move towards you by moving your arms: · You need to pull this lever to start the machine.pull something up/towards/away etc: · He pulled her towards him and kissed her.· Pull the chair nearer to the fire.pull hard (=pull using a lot of effort): · Everyone took hold of the rope and pulled hard.
to pull something using one or more short quick movements: · The little girl was tugging her mother's sleeve, trying to get her attention.tug at: · We tugged at the door but it still wouldn't open.
to pull someone or something slowly and smoothly in a particular direction: draw something in/up/back/near etc: · She took my hand and drew me closer.· He wound in the line, steadily drawing the fish towards the bank.· Paula drew back the sheet and looked at the sleeping child.draw the curtains/drapes (=pull them so that they cover the windows): · It was getting dark so I drew the curtains and switched on the light.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
She picked up the envelope and gave it a shake.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
She picked up the envelope and gave it a shake.· She tugged off his patterned trousers and the leather jerkin.· The purse I tugged off the shelf in the closet was a tight-weave straw classic, wide-bottomed, with coiled straps.· He tugged off the leather breastplate, then the tunic, and brushed at the blood.· As if on command, the figure on the bed tugged off his hood.· He tugged off the high boots and, fumbling with the buttons, he removed his officer's grey-green trousers.
NOUN· Izzie tugging on his arm, pleading, and her father pushing her away.· A man at the edge of the crowd tugged at my arm.· As mummy stepped out of the car park, tugging Anna's arm even though she was hurrying, she turned away from the postbox.· She begins to tug at my arm.· A dazed Fourth Aunt lay in bed, vaguely aware that some one was tugging on her arm.
· The wind was tugging at her hair, the setting sun turning it to false and fleeting gold.
· While he was blinded, Jane grabbed his beard with both hands and tugged.· Baptiste took her hand and tugged her after him.· She felt her eyelids dropping and woke just in time to feel her hand being tugged towards the throbbing drums.· She lived like you do, a dozen slack rope-ends in each dream hand, tugging uselessly on memory or hope.· Shutting the window with careful hands, he tugged trousers over his pyjamas and pulled a polo-necked sweater over his head.· He felt a hand tugging at his shirtsleeve.· Polly's hands tugged at his zip.
· Benjamin tugged Ruthven by the sleeve, indicating he wished to talk to him.· But, like Machiavelli, they are for ever tugging at the sleeves of politicians.· The goat-kicking woman tugged at my sleeve and pointed, saying something I did not understand.· Then the little boy, our guide, was with us again, tugging Mr Thabane's sleeve, talking excitedly.· A little old woman, clearly upset, was going about tugging at people's sleeves and pointing to the figures.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► tug/touch your forelock
1[intransitive, transitive] to pull with one or more short, quick pulls: - The sight of the puppies in the cages tugged at the women's hearts.
- Charity had felt something tug at her heart the moment she had first seen this cove.
- It pulls at the heartstrings of every agent out there to see a young lady or anyone jeopardized by these conditions.
- That night the little creature did not stop crying and its pitiful little squeak tore at Aggie's heartstrings.
The woman gently tugged his arm.tug at/on something Joe was tugging at her sleeve.► see thesaurus at pull2[transitive always + adverb/preposition] British English to pull a piece of clothing quickly onto your bodytug something on Alice was tugging on a sweater.3tug at somebody’s heart/heartstrings written to make someone feel sympathy for someone or somethingtug1 verbtug2 noun
tugtug2 noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I seized the door handle and gave it a good tug.
- If you were in the crowd, you couldn't fail to feel an emotional tug.
- Tony gave Simon's T-shirt a tug, and they both left the room.
- A tug at his trouser leg awakened him from his reverie.
- A tug hooting from the river.
- After so much delay, it never took more than one or two tugs.
- At Blisworth on the Grand Union Canal tugs were used from 1870 to 1936.
- I felt a tug when the skids hit treetops.
- The crew abandoned the tug, forcing the Coast Guard to send a swimmer out in high seas to rescue them.
- The ropes still held, but one good tug would part them like silk.
WORD SETS
adrift, adjectiveaft, adjectiveahoy, interjectionaircraft carrier, nounamidships, adverbanchor, nounanchor, verbanchorage, nounark, nounastern, adverbballast, nounbarge, nounbargee, nounbargepole, nounbarnacle, nounbarque, nounbarrage, nounbeach, verbbeam, nounbecalmed, adjectiveberth, nounberth, verbbilge, nounbill of lading, nounbillow, nounblade, nounboat, nounboat hook, nounboathouse, nounboating, nounboatman, nounbob, verbbollard, nounboom, nounbow, nounbridge, nounbrig, nounbulkhead, nounbunk, nounbuoy, nouncabin, nouncabin boy, nouncabin class, nouncabin cruiser, nouncable, nouncanal, nouncanal boat, nouncanoe, nouncanoe, verbcapstan, nouncaptain, nouncatamaran, nouncircumnavigate, verbclipper, nouncoast, verbcoaster, nouncoastguard, nouncockpit, nouncommodore, nouncompanionway, nounconning tower, nouncoracle, nouncordage, nouncox, nouncoxswain, nouncraft, nouncrew, verbcrossing, nouncrow's nest, nouncruise, verbcruise liner, nouncruiser, nouncruise ship, nouncutter, noundeck, noundecompression chamber, nounderrick, noundinghy, noundisembark, verbdisgorge, verbdisplacement, noundock, noundock, verbdocker, noundockside, noundockyard, noundory, noundownstream, adverbdraught, noundraw, verbdrawbridge, noundredge, verbdredger, noundrift, verbdrift, noundrifter, noundriftwood, noundrilling platform, noundrown, verbdry dock, noundugout, noundyke, nounembark, verbensign, nounferry, nounferry, verbferryboat, nounfigurehead, nounfirst mate, nounfirst officer, nounfleet, nounflotilla, nounfo'c'sle, nounforecastle, nounfounder, verbfrigate, nounfrogman, noungalleon, noungalley, noungangplank, noungangway, noungondola, noungondolier, noungrappling iron, nounground, verbgunnel, noungunwale, nounhalyard, nounharbour, nounhatch, nounhawser, nounhelm, nounhelmsman, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhigh water mark, nounhold, nounhoot, nounhoot, verbhouseboat, nounhovercraft, nounhulk, nounhull, nounhydrofoil, nounhydroplane, nounhydroplane, verbicebreaker, nouninboard, adjectiveinflatable, nouninflow, nounJet Ski, nounjetty, nounjib, nounjunk, nounkayak, nounkeel, nounketch, nounknot, nounkt, land, verblanding stage, nounlane, nounlaunch, verblaunch, nounleeward, adjectivelife belt, nounlifeboat, nounlife buoy, nounlife jacket, nounlifeline, nounlife preserver, nounlife raft, nounlife vest, nounlighter, nounlighthouse, nounlightship, nounliner, nounlist, verblock, nounlock keeper, nounlog book, nounlongshoreman, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounlow water mark, nounlugger, nounmainmast, nounmainsail, nounmaritime, adjectivemast, nounmaster, nounmasthead, nounmerchantman, nounmerchant navy, nounmerchant seaman, nounminesweeper, nounmizzen, nounmoor, verbmooring, nounmother ship, nounmotorboat, nounnarrow boat, nounnautical, adjectivenavigable, adjectivenavigate, verbnavigation, nounoakum, nounoar, nounoarlock, nounoarsman, nounoarswoman, nounoceangoing, adjectiveoffshore, adjectiveoil slick, nounoil tanker, nounoutboard motor, nounoutrigger, nounoverboard, adverboyster bed, nounpacket boat, nounpaddle, nounpaddle, verbpaddle steamer, nounpassage, nounpelagic, adjectiveperiscope, nounpier, nounpilot, nounpilot, verbpitch, verbPlimsoll line, nounplot, verbply, verbpoop deck, nounport, nounporthole, nounport of call, nounpowerboat, nounprivateer, nounpromenade deck, nounpropeller, nounprow, nounpunt, nounpunt, verbpurser, nounquadrant, nounquarterdeck, nounquay, nounraft, nounrafting, nounreef, verbrefit, verbregatta, nounresurface, verbrig, verbrig, nounrigging, nounroll, verbroll, nounroll-on roll-off, adjectivero-ro, nounrow, verbrowboat, nounrowing, nounrowing boat, nounrowlock, nounrubber dinghy, nounrudder, nounsail, verbsail, nounsailboat, nounsailing, nounsailing boat, nounsailing ship, nounsailor, nounsaloon, nounsampan, nounschooner, nounscull, nounscull, verbscupper, verbscupper, nounscuttle, verbseaborne, adjectivesea captain, nounsea dog, nounseafaring, adjectiveseagoing, adjectivesea lane, nounsea legs, nounsealer, nounseaman, nounseamanship, nounseaworthy, adjectivesheet, nounship, nounshipmate, nounshipping, nounshipping lane, nounship's chandler, nounshipwreck, nounshipwright, nounshipyard, nounside-wheeler, nounskiff, nounskull and crossbones, nounslaver, nounslipway, nounsloop, nounsluice, nounsmack, nounsonar, nounspar, nounspeedboat, nounsplice, verbSS, starboard, nounsteam, verbsteamboat, nounsteamer, nounsteamship, nounsteerage, nounsteersman, nounstern, nounstevedore, nounsteward, nounstewardess, nounstoker, nounsub, nounsubmarine, nounsubmarine, adjectivesubmersible, nounsundeck, nounsupertanker, nounswab, verbswell, nounswing bridge, nountack, nountack, verbtender, nounthird class, nountiller, nountonnage, nountopside, adverbtowpath, nountransport, nountransport ship, nountrawler, nountrim, verbtrimaran, nountroopship, nountub, nountug, nounupstream, adverbvessel, nounvoyage, nounvoyage, verbwake, nounwardroom, nounwarship, nounwaterborne, adjectivewaterlogged, adjectivewaterway, nounweir, nounwhaler, nounwheelhouse, nounwhirlpool, nounwindjammer, nounwindward, adjectivewreck, nounyachting, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She picked up the envelope and gave it a shake.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
She picked up the envelope and gave it a shake.· As his gaze tangled with hers, Ashley felt a tug of emotional recognition.· I felt a tug when the skids hit treetops.· Not for the first time, Kelly felt an unmistakable tug of attraction towards him.· When you feel that telltale tug, crank the handle and keep the pressure on.· The Mountie, feeling the tug, turned fast and put his hand down on Sheridan's wrist.· Suddenly he felt an uneven tug, the string went slack, and he realized that his efforts had been in vain.· At seven it tightens and I feel a tug.· He felt the tug of the tow rope.
· She gave a tentative tug at her hand.· I told him to shut up and I seized the door handle and gave it a good tug.· Don't be tentative or give repeated tugs which achieve nothing.· Tony gave Simon a tug on his shirt, and they left the room.· So he can give it a final tug to check it is closed.· I gave him a tug and he immediately lifted his near-fore.· After a little manipulation, the buckle slips round the handle, I give a tug, and the job is done.· It gives readers that necessary tug which will take them through all sorts of possibly wearisome matters to the final page.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► tug/touch your forelock
1 (also ˈtug boat) a small strong boat used for pulling or guiding ships into a port, up a river etc2[usually singular] a sudden strong pull: - It pulls at the heartstrings of every agent out there to see a young lady or anyone jeopardized by these conditions.
- That night the little creature did not stop crying and its pitiful little squeak tore at Aggie's heartstrings.
She removed the bandage with a sharp tug.3[usually singular] a strong and sudden feelingtug of Kate felt a tug of jealousy.