Library / English Dictionary

KOWTOW

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission

Synonyms:

kotow; kowtow

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("kowtow" is a kind of...):

bow; bowing; obeisance (bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting)

Derivation:

kowtow (try to gain favor by cringing or flattering)

kowtow (bend the knees and bow in a servile manner)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

Example:

He is always kowtowing to his boss

Synonyms:

bootlick; fawn; kotow; kowtow; suck up; toady; truckle

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "kowtow" is one way to...):

blandish; flatter (praise somewhat dishonestly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "kowtow"):

court favor; court favour; curry favor; curry favour (seek favor by fawning or flattery)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

kowtow (a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bend the knees and bow in a servile manner

Synonyms:

genuflect; kowtow; scrape

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "kowtow" is one way to...):

bow (bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

kowtow (a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission)

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