A kowtow / ˈkaʊtaʊ / (simplified Chinese: 叩头; traditional Chinese: 叩頭) is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. In Sinospheric culture, the kowtow is the highest sign of reverence.

: to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in token of homage, worship, or deep respect. Did you know? Kowtow originated as a noun referring to the act of kneeling and touching one's …

KOWTOW definition: 1. to show respect by going down into a position where your knees are on the floor and then bending…. Learn more.

To kowtow is to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of respect, worship, or submission. It is a rare loanword from Mandarin Chinese. It’s often used metaphorically to mean to show servile deference. It also functions as a noun denoting the act of kowtowing. Kowtow is the accepted spelling.

kowtow, in traditional China, the act of supplication made by an inferior to his superior by kneeling and knocking his head to the floor.

Kowtow, which describes the act of kneeling and touching one’s head to the ground to show respect, used to be a custom in Chinese culture. Now it refers to acting like you're doing that, whether you actually bow or not. Kowtow is derived from the Chinese word k’o-t’ou, which literally means “knock the head.”

The radical-chic royal crawlers would kowtow to her while she was present, then mock her once she was gone. Nor did he kowtow to his editors. intransitive verb: to kowtow to somebody: s’aplatir devant quelqu’un [...] intransitive verb: (= bow) saludar humildemente [...]

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. kow′tow′er, n.

Definition of kowtow verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

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