tower

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A tall, narrow structure (significantly taller than it is wide, either standing alone or forming part of a larger structure.

   an observation tower, an isolated watch tower, a church tower, conning tower

2. 2
   noun

   A strong refuge; a defence.

   Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

3. 3
   noun

   Each of a set of information technology concerns within a business, which are treated separately so that they can be handled by different providers.

   Suppliers compete separately for the towers and service integrator and management contract, which assists the government in the integration and operation of its services.

4. 4
   noun

   A tall fashionable headdress worn in the time of King William III and Queen Anne.

   Lay trains of amorous intrigues / In towers, and curls, and periwigs.

5. 5
   noun

   High flight; elevation.

   Nigh in her sight The Bird of Jove, stoopt from his aerie tour, Two Birds of gayest plume before him drove.

6. 6
   verb

   To be very tall.

   The office block towered into the sky.

7. 7
   verb

   To be high or lofty; to soar.

   My lord protector's hawks do tower so well.

8. 8
   verb

   To soar into.

   Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower The mid aerial sky

Etymology

From Middle English tour, tur, tor, from Old English tūr, tor, torr ("tower; rock"; > English tor) and Old French tour, toer, tor; both from Latin turris (“a tower”), Ancient Greek τύρρις (túrrhis) (Hesychius), τύρσις (túrsis). Compare Scots tour, towr, towre (“tower”), West Frisian toer (“tower”), Dutch toren (“tower”), German Turm (“tower”), Danish tårn (“tower”), Swedish torn (“tower”), Icelandic turn (“tower”), Welsh tŵr. Doublet of tor, tourelle, and turret.