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1. Pull hard
   "The prisoner tugged at the chains"; "This movie tugs at the heart strings"
    
2. Strive and make an effort to reach a goal
   "She tugged for years to make a decent living";
   - labor [US], labour [Brit, Cdn], push, drive, plow [US], plough on [Brit], plow on [US], plough [Brit], sweat
    
3. Tow (a vessel) with a tug
   "The tugboat tugged the freighter into the harbour"
    
4. Carry with difficulty
   "You'll have to tug this suitcase";
   - lug, tote, haul
    
5. Move by pulling hard
   "The horse finally tugged the cart out of the mud"
    
6. Pull or strain hard at
   "Each oar was tugged by several men"
    
7. Struggle in opposition
   "She tugged and wrestled with her conflicts"

1. A sudden abrupt pull
   - jerk
    
2. A powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships
   - tugboat, towboat, tower[2]

Derived forms: tugged, tugs, tugging

Type of: attract, boat, carry, displace, draw, draw in, fight, move, pull, pull in, struggle, tow, transport

Encyclopedia: Tug, Inshore and Dock