tow car

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Explanation of "Tow Car"

Definition: A "tow car" is a type of vehicle, usually a truck, that is designed to pull or lift other cars. This often happens when cars are broken down, parked in the wrong place, or involved in accidents. The tow car helps transport these cars to another location, like a repair shop or impound lot.

Usage Instructions

• When to use: You can use "tow car" when talking about the vehicle that helps move other cars. It is especially common in discussions about car accidents, parking rules, or roadside assistance.
• Where to use: This term is often used in everyday conversation, news reports, or when discussing car-related services.

Example Sentence

• "After my car broke down, a tow car arrived to take it to the garage."

Advanced Usage

In more advanced contexts, you may encounter terms like "towing service" or "towing company," which refer to businesses that operate tow cars.

Word Variants

• Tow Truck: This is another common term for a tow car. Both terms can be used interchangeably.
• Towing: This is the action of pulling a vehicle with a tow car.

Different Meanings

• The term "tow" itself means to pull something along with a vehicle. Thus, "tow car" specifically refers to a vehicle that does this for other cars.

Synonyms

• Tow truck
• Wrecker (informal)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Tow the line": This idiom means to follow rules or standards. It is not directly related to vehicles but uses the word "tow."
• Phrasal Verb: "Tow away" means to remove a vehicle by pulling it with a tow car, often used when a car is parked illegally.

Summary

A "tow car" is a helpful vehicle that assists in moving other cars when they cannot drive themselves.

Academic

Noun

1. a truck equipped to hoist and pull wrecked cars (or to remove cars from no-parking zones)

Synonyms

• tow truck
• wrecker