KOWTOW

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does kowtow mean? 

• KOWTOW (noun)
  The noun KOWTOW has 1 sense:

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

  Familiarity information: KOWTOW used as a noun is very rare.

• KOWTOW (verb)
  The verb KOWTOW has 2 senses:

1. bend the knees and bow in a servile manner

2. try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

  Familiarity information: KOWTOW used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KOWTOW (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

kotow; kowtow

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)

• KOWTOW (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they kowtow    ... he / she / it kowtows   
Past simple: kowtowed   
Past participle: kowtowed   
-ing form: kowtowing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bend the knees and bow in a servile manner

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

genuflect; kowtow; scrape

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

He is always kowtowing to his boss

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)

 Context examples 

Sacramento gives us our appropriations and therefore we kowtow to Sacramento, and to the Board of Regents, and to the party press, or to the press of both parties.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)