kowtow

kow·tow

 (kou-tou′, kou′tou′)

intr.v. kow·towed, kow·tow·ing, kow·tows

1. To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, as formerly done in China.

2. To show servile deference. See Synonyms at fawn¹.

n.

1. The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground.

2. An obsequious act.

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[From Mandarin kòu tóu, a kowtow, from Middle Chinese k^həw` tɦəw : k<sup>h</sup>əw`, to strike, knock + tɦəw, head.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

kowtow

(ˌkaʊˈtaʊ)

vb (intr)

1. to touch the forehead to the ground as a sign of deference: a former Chinese custom

2. (often foll by to) to be servile or obsequious (towards)

n

the act of kowtowing

[C19: from Chinese k'o t'ou, from k'o to strike, knock + t'ou head]

ˌkowˈtower n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

kow•tow

(ˈkaʊˈtaʊ, -ˌtaʊ, ˈkoʊ-)
v.i.

1. to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference.

2. to touch the forehead to the ground while kneeling, as an act of worship, respect, etc., esp. in former Chinese custom.

n.

3. the act of kowtowing.

[1795–1805; < Chinese kòutóu literally, knock (one's) head]

kow′tow′er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

kowtow

Past participle: kowtowed
Gerund: kowtowing

Imperative

kowtow

kowtow

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	kowtow - a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission kotow bowing, obeisance, bow - bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting
Verb	1.	kowtow - bend the knees and bow in a servile manner genuflect, scrape bow - bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting; "He bowed before the King"
	2.	kowtow - try to gain favor by cringing or flattering; "He is always kowtowing to his boss" bootlick, kotow, toady, truckle, fawn, suck up blandish, flatter - praise somewhat dishonestly court favor, court favour, curry favor, curry favour - seek favor by fawning or flattery; "This employee is currying favor with his superordinates"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

kowtow

verb grovel, court, flatter, cringe, fawn, pander to, suck up to (slang), toady, kiss someone's ass (U.S. & Canad. taboo slang), brown-nose (taboo slang), truckle, lick someone's boots, lick someone's arse (taboo slang) Nor did he kowtow to his editors.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

kowtow

verb

To support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superior:

bootlick, cringe, fawn, grovel, slaver, toady, truckle.

Informal: apple-polish, brownnose, cotton.

Slang: suck up.

Idioms: curry favor, dance attendance, kiss someone's feet, lick someone's boots.

noun

An inclination of the head or body, as in greeting, consent, courtesy, submission, or worship:

bow, curtsy, genuflection, nod, obeisance.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

Kotauzu Kreuze kriechen

ossequiare

aanpassenbuigenbuigingdiepknielen

kowtow

[ˈkaʊˈtaʊ] VI (= bow) → saludar humildemente; (= be subservient) to kowtow to sb → bajar la cabeza or doblegarse ante algn

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

kowtow

[ˌkaʊˈtaʊ] vi
to kowtow to sb → s'aplatir devant qn

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

kowtow

vi → einen Kotau machen, dienern; to kowtow to somebody → vor jdm dienern or katzbuckeln (inf) → or einen Kotau machen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

kowtow

[ˌkaʊˈtaʊ] vi (fam) to kowtow to sb → prostrarsi davanti a qn (fig)

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995