- to carry or drag (something heavy) with great effort
- (transitive) to introduce (an irrelevant topic) into a conversation or discussion
- the act or an instance of lugging
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
lug1 /lʌg/USA pronunciation
v., lugged, lug•ging, n.
v.
n. [countable]
lug2 /lʌg/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to pull or carry with effort or difficulty:[~ + object]lugging heavy rocks.
- Automotive[no object] (of an engine or machine) to jerk, hesitate, or strain.
n. [countable]
- an act or instance of lugging.
lug2 /lʌg/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
- a projecting piece by which anything is held or supported.
- Slang Terms
- an awkward fellow.
lug1
(lug),USA pronunciation v., lugged, lug•ging, n.
v.t.
v.i.
n.
lug2 (lug),USA pronunciation n.
lug3 (lug),USA pronunciation n.
lug4 (lug),USA pronunciation n.
Lug (lŏŏкн),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
- to pull or carry with force or effort:to lug a suitcase upstairs.
- to introduce or interject in an inappropriate or irrelevant manner:to lug personalities into a discussion of philosophy.
- Nautical, Naval Terms(of a sailing ship) to carry an excessive amount of (sail) for the conditions prevailing.
v.i.
- to pull or tug laboriously.
- Automotive(of an engine or machine) to jerk, hesitate, or strain:The engine lugs when we climb a steep hill.
n.
- an act or instance of lugging;
a forcible pull;
haul. - a wooden box for transporting fruit or vegetables.
- Slang Termsa request for or exaction of money, as for political purposes:They put the lug on him at the office.
- Scandinavian; compare Norwegian lugge, Swedish lugga to pull by the hair
- Middle English luggen 1300–50
lug2 (lug),USA pronunciation n.
- a projecting piece by which anything is held or supported.
- a ridge or welt that helps to provide traction, as on a tire or the sole of a shoe.
- Building[Masonry.]either of the ends of a lug sill.
- Building[Carpentry.](in a double-hung window) one of a pair of projections extending downward from the ends of the meeting rail of the upper sash.
- a leather loop hanging down from a saddle, through which a shaft is passed for support.
- Nautical, Naval Terms[Shipbuilding.]clip2 (def. 6).
- Slang Terms
- an awkward, clumsy fellow.
- a blockhead.
- a man;
guy.
- Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish lugg forelock. See lug1
- 1485–95
lug3 (lug),USA pronunciation n.
- Nautical, Naval Termslugsail.
- by shortening
lug4 (lug),USA pronunciation n.
- Invertebrateslugworm.
- 1595–1605; earlier lugg; perh. special use of lug2
Lug (lŏŏкн),USA pronunciation n.
- Mythologyan ancient Irish god, probably a solar deity.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
lug /lʌɡ/ vb (lugs, lugging, lugged)
lug /lʌɡ/ n
- a projecting piece by which something is connected, supported, or lifted
- a box or basket for vegetables or fruit with a capacity of 28 to 40 pounds
- Scot Northern English dialect
another word for ear1 - slang a man, esp a stupid or awkward one
lug /lʌɡ/ n
- short for lugsail
lug•sail
(lug′sāl′; Naut. lug′səl),USA pronunciation n. [Naut.]
- Nautical, Naval Termsa quadrilateral sail bent upon a yard that crosses the mast obliquely. See diag. under sail. Also called lug.
- 1670–80; Middle English lugge pole (now dialect, dialectal; compare log1) + sail
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
lugsail /ˈlʌɡsəl/, lug /lʌɡ/ n
- a four-sided sail bent and hoisted on a yard
'lug' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
lot
- lughole
- lug screw
- luggage
- lugsail
- lugworm
- balance lug
- Chinese lug
- chug
- chug-a-lug
- clip
- left-luggage office
- lorry
- luge
- lug foresail
- lugger
- lugger topsail
- luggie
- lug nut
- lug pad
- lug-rigged
- lug-soled
- lug wrench
- New Orleans lugger
- padeye
- schlep