lug

1 of 3

verb

ˈləg 

lugged; lugging

transitive verb

1

: drag, pull

2

: to carry laboriously

lugged the bags to the car

3

: to introduce in a forced manner

lugs my name into the argument

intransitive verb

1

: to pull with effort : tug

2

: to move heavily or by jerks

the car lugs on hills

3

of a racehorse : to swerve from the course toward or away from the inside rail

lug

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

archaic

a

: an act of lugging

b

: something that is lugged

c

: a shipping container for produce

2

: lugsail

3

lugs plural : superior airs or affectations

put on lugs

4

slang : an exaction of money

—used in the phrase put the lug on

lug

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural lugs

1

: something (such as a handle) that projects like an ear: such as

a

: a leather loop on a harness saddle through which the shaft passes

b

: a metal fitting to which electrical wires are soldered or connected

2

chiefly British : ear

3

: a ridge (as on the bottom of a shoe) to increase traction

4

usually lug nut : a nut used to secure a wheel on an automotive vehicle

He knelt beside me, showed me where to place the jack … and how to loosen the lug nuts just enough before raising the car—otherwise the wheel spins with the torque of the wrench.

—K. John Lee

When changing a tire, you should … tighten the lugs fully in a crisscross pattern. This way the wheel is tightened evenly to the hub.

—John Paul

see also lug wrench

5

a

: a big clumsy fellow

b

: an ordinary commonplace person

Synonyms of lug

Verb

• pull
• haul
• drag

Noun (2)

• lump
• hulk
• mutt
• loser
• heel
• idiot
• gawk
• creep
• brute

Examples of lug in a Sentence

Verb

She had to lug her suitcases out to the car by herself.

I was lugging a heavy camera around all day.

Noun (2)

get off of my feet, you big lug!

the billionaire industrialist was totally clueless about the concerns of the blue-collar lugs that worked for him

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At just over a pound, this note-taking tablet is perfect for students who are sprinting to class and don’t want to lug around a full-size laptop. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026

Armed with just two open-reel videotapes, Goodman lugged his hulking camera and tripod behind percussionist Juma Sultan and began to document Hendrix’s historic set just 15 feet away from the musician. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

Paired with knee-high, lug-sole boots, a cutsey tutu becomes oh-so cool. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026

Some species of the cephalopods lug coconut shells around for mobile shelter; others radically transform their bodies to mimic deadlier creatures. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English luggen to pull by the hair or ear, drag, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian lugga to pull by the hair

Noun (2)

Middle English (Scots) lugge, perhaps from Middle English luggen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lug

• lug nut
• lug wrench

Rhymes for lug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• mug
• plug
• pug
• rug
• rugg
• shrug

Kids Definition

lug

1 of 2 verb

ˈləg 

lugged; lugging

: to pull or carry especially with great effort

lug

2 of 2 noun

1

: a part (as a handle) that projects like an ear

2

: a nut used to hold a wheel on an automotive vehicle

3

a

: a big clumsy fellow

b

: an ordinary commonplace person