kow´|tow´er

kow´|tow´er
kow|tow «KOW TOW», verb, noun.
–v.i.
1. to kneel and touch the ground with the forehead to show deep respect, submission, or worship.
2. to show slavish respect and obedience: »

He doesn't kowtow to win favor (Newsweek).

–n.
the act of kowtowing. SYNONYM(S): obeisance.
[< Mandarin k'o-t'ou knock (the) head]
kow´|tow´er, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • kow|tow — «KOW TOW», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to kneel and touch the ground with the forehead to show deep respect, submission, or worship. 2. to show slavish respect and obedience: »He doesn t kowtow to win favor (Newsweek). –n. the act of kowtowing.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • kow-tow — see kowtow …   English dictionary

  • kow·tow — …   Useful english dictionary

  • kow-tow — …   Useful english dictionary

  • kow — cra·kow; han·kow; kal·kow·skite; nip·kow; ying·kow; kow·tow; …   English syllables

  • tow — bul·tow; ling·tow; tow·abil·i·ty; tow·able; tow·age; tow·an; tow; tow·er·ing·ly; tow·er·man; tow·ery; tow·hee; tow·ie; tow·man; tow·mond; tow·ser; TOW; kow·tow; swa·tow; tow·er; tow·mont; …   English syllables

  • kowtow — kow·tow …   English syllables

  • kowtow — kow•tow [[t]ˈkaʊˈtaʊ, ˌtaʊ, ˈkoʊ [/t]] v. i. 1) to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference 2) to touch the forehead to the ground while kneeling, as an act of worship, respect, etc., esp. in former Chinese custom 3) the act of… …   From formal English to slang

  • kowtow — kow|tow [ˌkauˈtau] v [i]informal [Date: 1800 1900; : Chinese; Origin: ke tou to hit your head ; because when you bow very low you hit your head on the floor] to be too eager to obey or be polite to someone in authority kowtow to ▪ We will not… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • kowtow — kow|tow [ kau tau, kau,tau ] verb intransitive to try very hard to please someone, in a way that other people find annoying: He was a proud man who kowtowed to nobody …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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