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tower of strength
tour de force /ˌtʊə də ˈfɔːs‖ˌtʊər də ˈfɔːrs/ n [S] lit or fml, apprec a show of great skill: Her speech to the Democratic Party convention was a tour de force.
Tour de 'France, the a famous bicycle race that takes place in France each year. The race goes all over France, including the mountains, and continues for about three weeks. On each day the rider who is leading the race wears a special yellow jersey. The Tour de France is known for being very difficult physically, and over the years some riders have died during the race.
tour-ism /ˈtʊərɪzəm/ n [U] 1 the practice of travelling for pleasure, especially on one's holidays 2 the business of providing holidays, tours, hotels etc, for tourists: The country depends on tourism for much of its income.
tour-ist /ˈtʊərɪst/ n 1 a person travelling for pleasure: Oxford is full of tourists in the summer. | a tourist hotel 2 a sportsman on TOUR
tourist at|traction n a place or event which attracts large numbers of tourists: Stratford-upon-Avon is a major tourist attraction.
tourist class n [U] (on a ship or aircraft) the standard travelling conditions which are fairly cheap and suitable for ordinary travellers: I always travel tourist class. | a tourist class ticket ➔ compare BUSINESS CLASS, CABIN CLASS
tourist ,industry n all the businesses, hotels, MUSEUMS etc that make most of their money from tourists: a good year for the tourist industry
tourist ,office also ,tourist infor'mation ,office n an office giving information to tourists about things to see, places to stay, and means of travel in a particular place: Is there a tourist office in this town?
tour-ist-y /ˈtʊərɪsti/ adj usually derog full of or suitable for tourists: The village is beautiful, but it's become a bit too touristy.
tour-na-ment /ˈtʊənəmənt, ˈtɔː-||ˈtɜːr-, ˈtʊər-/ n 1 an event in which a number of games are played, the winner being the player who wins the greatest number of games: a tennis/chess tournament 2 (in former times) a competition of courage and fighting skill between noble soldiers
tour-ney /ˈtʊəni, ˈtɔː-||ˈtɜːr-, ˈtʊər-/ n, old use or pomp a tournament
tour-ni-quet /ˈtʊənɪkeɪ, ˈtɔː-||ˈtɜːrnɪk|t, ˈtʊər-/ n something, especially a band of cloth, that is twisted tightly round an arm or leg to stop bleeding: We had to apply a tourniquet to his leg.
tour of ' duty n TOUR¹
tour ,operator n BrE a company which arranges tours, especially PACKAGE TOURS: a small tour operator running three coaches | Tour operators are reporting a sharp fall in bookings as a result of the war.
tou-sle /ˈtaʊzəl/ v [T usually pass.] to disarrange (especially the hair); make untidy
Tous-saint l'Ou-ver-ture /ˌtuːsæn luːvəˈtjʊə||tuːˌsæn luːˈvː-/ (1746–1803) a former SLAVE who became a leader of the people in Haiti, in opposition to French rule there. He died in a French prison.
tout¹ /taʊt/ v 1 [{for};T] derog to try repeatedly to persuade people to buy (one's goods), use (one's services) etc: At one time, solicitors were not allowed to advertise; it was regarded as touting for business. | Our company does not tout its wares on television. 2 [T(as)] often derog to praise greatly, especially as a form of advertising: This show is being widely touted in the press as the greatest ever on Broadway. 3 AmE to give information on a horse in a race in return for money
tout² BrE || scalper AmE — n derog a person who offers tickets that are in short supply for sale at a price higher than usual: A ticket tout offered me a £20 Cup Final ticket for £60.
tow¹ /təʊ/ v [T] to pull (especially a vehicle) along by a rope or chain: We towed the car to the nearest garage/towed the boat into the harbour.
tow² n 1 [C] an act of towing: My car's broken down; will you give me a tow? 2 [U] the state of being towed: We took the boat in tow. | The van is on tow. 3 in tow infml following closely behind: She arrived with all her children in tow.
to-wards /təˈwɔːdz||tɔːrdz/ especially BrE || to-ward /təˈwɔːd||tɔːrd/ especially AmE — prep 1 in the direction of, without necessarily reaching: She was walking towards town when I met her. | They have taken the first step towards reaching an agreement. | We've made great strides towards sexual equality. 2 in a position facing: He stood with his back towards me. | The house faces towards the river. 3 near; just before in time: Towards the end of the afternoon it began to rain. 4 in relation to: What is their policy/attitude towards America? 5 for the purpose of; for part payment or fulfilment of: We save £10 towards our holidays each week.
tow-a-way /ˈtəʊəweɪ/ n AmE a vehicle which is standing where it is not allowed and which may be taken away by the police —towaway adj: a towaway zone (=an area in which vehicles may be taken away by the police)
tow-el¹ /ˈtaʊəl/ n [(often in comb.)] a piece of cloth or paper used for rubbing or drying wet skin, dishes etc: a bath towel | a hand towel ➔ see also SANITARY TOWEL, TEA TOWEL, throw in the towel (THROW IN)
towel² v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE [T(DOWN)] to rub or dry with a towel
tow-el-ette /ˌtaʊəˈlet/ n AmE a small, wet, soft piece of paper used to clean a part of one's body: a package of towelettes | a box of towelettes made especially for babies
tow-el-ling BrE || toweling AmE /ˈtaʊəlɪŋ/ n [U] thickish cloth, used especially for making towels
'towel rail also 'towel rack n a bar or frame on which towels can be hung, especially in a bathroom: The bathroom fittings include a heated towel rail.
tow-er¹ /ˈtaʊə/ n 1 a tall building standing alone or forming part of a castle, church etc: a bell tower | the Tower of London 2 a tall structure, often made of metal, used for signalling, broadcasting etc: the Eiffel Tower | an air traffic control tower ➔ see also CLOCK TOWER
tower² v [{(above, over)}] to be very tall, especially in relation to the height of the surroundings: The high mountains towered over the little town. | (fig.) a giant company that towers over its rivals
Tower, the ➔ see TOWER OF LONDON
'tower block n BrE a tall block of flats or offices
Tower 'Bridge a bridge which crosses the River Thames in London, just to the east of the Tower of London. The part of the bridge which carries the road divides in the middle into two separate parts, which can be pulled up so that tall ships can pass under it. Tower Bridge is one of London's best-known buildings, and is often used as a SYMBOL representing London.
tow-er-ing /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/ adj [A] 1 very tall: towering trees/skyscrapers 2 of great importance; OUTSTANDING: one of the towering intellects of our time 3 very great; INTENSE: She was in a towering rage. (=extremely angry)
Tower of 'Babel, the a tower in a story in the Old Testament of the Bible. The story is supposed to explain why there are so many different languages in the world. According to the story, everyone originally spoke the same language, but when the people of Babel tried to build a tower that would reach to Heaven, God prevented them by making them all speak different languages. The people could not understand each other, and were unable to finish building the tower. People sometimes use the word 'babel' to talk about a situation in which many people are talking at the same time and it is impossible to understand anyone. ➔ see also BABEL
Tower of 'London, the also the Tower a FORTRESS (=protected group of buildings including a castle) in London next to the River Thames, built in the 11th century. The kings and queens of England lived there in the past, and many important people were kept as prisoners there. It is now a MUSEUM, and tourists visit it especially to see the CROWN JEWELS (=a collection of valuable jewels belonging to the royal family). The Tower of London is guarded by the BEEFEATERS, who are dressed in old-fashioned traditional uniforms. There is a SUPERSTITION (=old belief) that if the RAVENS (=large black birds) ever leave the Tower of London, the British MONARCHY will end.
tower of 'strength n apprec someone who can always be depended on to give help, sympathy, and support in times of trouble