kowtow
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1kow·tow
noun \(ˌ)kau̇-ˈtau̇, ˈkau̇-ˌ\Definition of KOWTOW
: an act of kowtowing
Origin of KOWTOW
Chinese (Beijing) kòutóu, from kòu to knock + tóu head
First Known Use: 1804
Rhymes with KOWTOW
Aargau, allow, and how, ant cow, as how, avow, Belau, Bissau, bowwow, Breslau, cacao, cahow, Callao, cash cow, chowchow, chow chow, Cracow, Dachau, Davao, Donau, endow, enow, erenow, eyebrow, gangplow, Hankow, hausfrau, haymow, highbrow, hoosegow, jiao, Jungfrau, know-how, Kraków, landau, lowbrow, luau, Lucknow, Macao, mau-mau, meow, Moscow, nohow, Palau, powwow, sea cow, snowplow, somehow, Spandau, Zwickau
2kowtow
intransitive verbDefinition of KOWTOW
1
: to show obsequious deference : fawn <kowtows to the boss>
2
: to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in token of homage, worship, or deep respect
Examples of KOWTOW
- <you can try kowtowing to the boss, but he'll see right through you>
First Known Use of KOWTOW
1826
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