ENGLISH
REFERENCE

towel

n. countable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈtaʊəɫ// UK //tˈaʊəl// tow·el Archaic Dialect General-service

n. a piece of thick cloth or paper used for drying yourself or something else. You use it after you wash your hands, take a shower, or go swimming.

n. an absorbent piece of fabric or paper used for drying or wiping a surface or person.


SIMPLE

Please hang your wet towel on the rack.

CONTEXTUAL

She packed a large beach towel and some sunscreen before heading to the coast for the afternoon.

COMPLEX

The hotel provides fresh linen daily, ensuring that every guest has a clean, plush towel waiting for them after their morning bath.

Origin

From Middle English towayle, towel, towail, towaille, from Old French toaille (“towel”) (modern French touaille), Medieval Latin toallia, from Frankish þwahilu (“cloth”), from Proto-Germanic þwahaną (“to wash”). Cognate with Old High German dwahila (“towel”) (modern dialectal German Zwehle), Dutch dwaal (“towel”), dweil (“mop”), Low German Dweel (“towel”), Old English þwǣle (“band; ribbon; fillet”), Old English þwēan (“to wash”).

Usage

Commonly used with the verb 'dry' or 'wipe'.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference