Definition
To pull an aircraft along the ground using a tug, tractor, or other vehicle connected by a tow bar or tow line, typically to move it between a parking area, hangar, or runway when engine power is not being used.
Plain English
To pull an aircraft on the ground with a vehicle, instead of taxiing it under its own power.
Context Anchor
Seen in training syllabi, ground handling procedures, glider training, and airport ramp operations.
Derivation
From Old English 'togian', meaning to drag or pull. The aviation use is the same everyday meaning applied to aircraft: pulling something that isn't moving under its own power.
Why Pilots Care
Towing is a common cause of minor aircraft damage. Knowing correct towing limits, nose wheel steering limits, and tow bar use protects the aircraft and avoids expensive repairs.
Intuition Check
Do not think of tow only as a roadside tow truck. In aviation, a tow can mean pulling an aircraft on the ground or pulling one through the air, depending on the operation.
Example Sentence 1
After shutdown, the line crew will tow the aircraft back into the hangar for the night.
Example Sentence 2
During the syllabus lesson on tow procedures, the instructor emphasized maintaining proper position behind the tow plane.