Low - Definitions from Dictionary.com

34 results for: Low

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low1

Audio Help [loh] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, adverb, -er, -est, noun

–adjective

1.	situated, placed, or occurring not far above the ground, floor, or base: a low shelf.

2.	of small extent upward; not high or tall: A low wall surrounds the property.

3.	not far above the horizon, as a planet: The moon was low in the sky.

4.	lying or being below the general level: low ground.

5.	designating or pertaining to regions near sea level, esp. near the sea: low countries.

6.	bending or passing far downward; deep: a low bow.

7.	(of a garment) low-necked; décolleté: The dress she wore was fashionably low.

8.	rising but slightly from a surface: a low relief on a frieze.

9.	of less than average or normal height or depth, as a liquid or stream: The river is low this time of year.

10.	near the first of a series: a low number.

11.	ranked near the beginning or bottom on some scale of measurement: a low income bracket.

12.	indicating the bottom or the point farthest down: the low point in his creative life.

13.	lacking in strength, energy, or vigor; feeble; weak: to feel low and listless.

14.	providing little nourishment or strength, as a diet.

15.	of small number, amount, degree, force, intensity, etc.: low visibility; a generator with a low output.

16.	indicated or represented by a low number: A low latitude is one relatively near the equator.

17.	soft: subdued; not loud: a low murmur.

18.	Music. produced by relatively slow vibrations, as sounds; grave in pitch.

19.	assigning or attributing little worth, value, excellence, or the like: a low estimate of a new book.

20.	containing a relatively small amount: a diet low in starches.

21.	nearing depletion; not adequately supplied: low on funds; Our stock of towels is low.

22.	depressed or dejected: low spirits.

23.	far down in the scale of rank or estimation; humble: of low birth.

24.	of inferior quality or character: a low grade of fabric; a low type of intellect.

25.	lacking in dignity or elevation, as of thought or expression.

26.	mean, base, or disreputable: low tricks; low companions.

27.	coarse or vulgar: entertainment of a low sort.

28.	Boxing. struck or delivered below a contestant's belt.

29.	Biology. having a relatively simple structure; not complex in organization.

30.	Phonetics. (of a vowel) articulated with a relatively large opening above the tongue, as the vowels of hat, hut, hot, ought, etc. Compare high (def. 23).

31.	Automotive. of, pertaining to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the drive shaft moves at the lowest speed with relation to the speed of the engine crankshaft, used esp. for temporarily overcoming the weight or inertia of the vehicle; first: low gear.

32.	Baseball. (of a pitched ball) passing the plate at a level below that of the batter's knees: a low curve.

33.	Cards. having less value than other cards: a low card.

34.	Metallurgy. having a relatively small amount of a specified constituent (usually used in combination): low-carbon steel.

35.	Chiefly British. holding to Low Church principles and practices.

–adverb

36.	in or to a low position, point, degree, etc.: The raiders crouched low in the bushes.

37.	near the ground, floor, or base; not aloft: The plane flew low.

38.	in or to a humble or abject state: Some live low while others live high. She swore she would bring him low.

39.	in or to a condition of depletion, prostration, or death: The gas in the tank is running low.

40.	at comparatively small cost; cheaply: to buy something low and sell it high.

41.	at or to a low pitch, volume, intensity, etc.: to turn the radio low; lights turned down low.

42.	in a low tone; softly; quietly; to speak low.

43.	Archaic. far down in time; late.

–noun

44.	something that is low, as ground or prices: numerous marshy lows in the forest; the recent low in the stock market.

45.	Automotive. low gear; first gear.

46.	Meteorology. an atmospheric low-pressure system; cyclone. Compare high (def. 37).

47.

Cards.

a.	the lowest trump card.

b.	a card of small value, or of lower value than other cards.

c.	the lowest score in a game.

d.	a player having such a score.

48.	a point of deepest decline, vulgarity, etc.: a new low in tastelessness.

49.	Slang. a period of intense depression or discomfort, when the effects of a drug have subsided.

—Idioms

50.

lay low,

a.	to overpower or kill; defeat: to lay one's attackers low.

b.	to knock down; make prostrate.

c.	Informal. to lie low.

51.

lie low,

a.	to conceal oneself: He had to lie low for a while.

b.	to do nothing until the right opportunity develops; bide one's time: Until the dispute is settled, you would do best to lie low.

[Origin: 1125–75; ME lowe, lohe (adj. and n.), earlier lāh < ON lāgr (adj.); c. OFris lége, léch, D laag, OHG laege; akin to lie²

]

—Related forms

lowish, adjective

lowness, noun

—Synonyms 13. exhausted, sinking, expiring, dying. 17. quiet. 18. deep. 22. dispirited, unhappy, sad. 23. lowly, meek, obscure. 26. ignoble, degraded, servile. 27. rude, crude. See mean².

—Antonyms 1–3. high.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Low

To learn more about Low visit Britannica.com

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low2

Audio Help [loh] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used without object)

1.	to utter the deep, low sound characteristic of cattle; moo.

–verb (used with object)

2.	to utter by or as by lowing.

–noun

3.	the act or the sound of lowing: the low of a distant herd.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME lowen, OE hlōwan; c. D loeien, OHG hluoen, OS hlōian; akin to ON Hlōi proper name (lit., bellower, shouter), L clāmāre to call out

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

low3

Audio Help [loh] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used without object) British Dialect.

1.	to burn; blaze.

2.	(of a person) to feel strong emotions; glow with excitement.

Also, lowe.

[Origin: 1300–50; ME < ON loga to flame, log a flame, akin to G lohen (v.), Lohe (n.), L lūcére (v.), lūx (n.) light¹

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Low

Audio Help [loh] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	David, 1891–1963, English political cartoonist, born in New Zealand.

2.	Juliette, 1860–1927, founder of Girl Scouts in the U.S.

3.	Seth, 1850–1916, U.S. political reformer, educator, and politician.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

low¹ Audio Help (lō) Pronunciation Key
adj. low·er, low·est

1. Having little relative height; not high or tall.
2. Rising only slightly above surrounding surfaces.
3. Situated or placed below normal height: a low lighting fixture.
4. Situated below the surrounding surfaces: water standing in low spots.
5. Dead and buried.
6. Cut to show the wearer's neck and chest; décolleté: a low neckline.
7. Lacking strength or vigor; weak.
8. Lacking liveliness or good spirits; discouraged or dejected.
9. Below average in degree, intensity, or amount: a low temperature.
10. Below an average or a standard: low wages; a low level of communication.
11. Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale: a low number; a low grade of oil.
12. Relating to or being latitudes nearest to the equator.
13. Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value: a low fee; a low income.
Near or at the horizon: The sun is low in the sky.
Close or closer to a reference point: was low in the offensive zone, near the goal.
Linguistics Produced with part or all of the tongue depressed, as a, pronounced (ä), in father. Used of vowels.
Of less than usual or average depth; shallow: The river is low.
Humble in status or character; lowly: of low birth.
Biology Of relatively simple structure in the scale of living organisms.
Unrefined; coarse: low humor.
Violating standards of morality or decency; base: a low stunt to pull. See Synonyms at mean².
1. Lacking strength or vigor; weak.
2. Lacking liveliness or good spirits; discouraged or dejected.
3. Below average in degree, intensity, or amount: a low temperature.
4. Below an average or a standard: low wages; a low level of communication.
5. Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale: a low number; a low grade of oil.
6. Relating to or being latitudes nearest to the equator.
7. Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value: a low fee; a low income.
1. Below average in degree, intensity, or amount: a low temperature.
2. Below an average or a standard: low wages; a low level of communication.
3. Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale: a low number; a low grade of oil.
4. Relating to or being latitudes nearest to the equator.
5. Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value: a low fee; a low income.
Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively small number of sound-wave cycles per second.
Not loud; soft: a low murmur.
Being near total depletion: My savings account is low.
Not adequately provided or equipped; short: low on supplies.
Depreciatory; disparaging: a low opinion of him.
Brought down or reduced in health or wealth: in a low state.
Of, relating to, or being the gear configuration or setting, as in an automotive transmission, that produces the least vehicular speed with respect to engine speed.

adv.

1. In or to a low position, level, or space: aimed low; bent low.
2. In or to a low condition or rank; humbly: thought low of himself.
In or to a reduced, humbled, or degraded condition: brought low by failure.
Softly; quietly: speak low.
With a deep pitch: sang low.
At a small price: bought low and sold high.

A low level, position, or degree: Rain collects in the lows. The stock market fell to a new low.
Meteorology A region of atmospheric pressure that is below normal.
The low gear configuration of a transmission.

[Middle English loue, from Old Norse lāgr; see legh- in Indo-European roots.]

low'ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

low² Audio Help   (lō) Pronunciation Key
n.   The characteristic sound uttered by cattle; a moo.

intr.v.   lowed, low·ing, lows
To utter the sound made by cattle; moo.

[From Middle English lowen, to moo, from Old English hlōwan; see kelə-² in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Low Audio Help (lō) Pronunciation Key
American founder of the Girl Scouts (1912).

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
low (adj.)

M.E. lah (c.1150), from O.N. lagr "low," from P.Gmc. *lægaz (cf. O.Fris. lech, Du. laag, Ger. läge "low"), lit. "that which is lying flat;" related to O.E. licgan (see lie (v.)). Meaning "humble in rank" is from c.1200; "undignified" is from 1559; sense of "dejected, dispirited" is attested from 1737. In reference to sounds, it is attested from 1422. In geographical usage, it refers to the part of a country near the sea-shore (c.1300; cf. Low Countries "Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg," 1548). Low-down "vulgar" is from 1888. Lowbrow "person who is not intellectual" is first attested 1902, said to have been coined by humorist Will Irwin. Low-life (adj.) "disreputable, vulgar" is from 1794; as a noun, "coarse, no-good person" it is recorded from 1911. Lowly "humble" is from c.1374.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
low (v.)

O.E. hlowan "make a noise like a cow," from P.Gmc. *khlo- (cf. M.Du. loeyen, O.H.G. hluojen), from onomatopoeic PIE base *kla- (see claim).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

low
adjective
1.	less than normal in degree or intensity or amount; "low prices"; "the reservoir is low" [ant: high]
2.	literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension; "low ceilings"; "low clouds"; "low hills"; "the sun is low"; "low furniture"; "a low bow" [ant: high]
3.	very low in volume; "a low murmur"; "the low-toned murmur of the surf"
4.	unrefined in character; "low comedy"
5.	used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency [ant: high]
6.	of the most contemptible kind; "abject cowardice"; "a low stunt to pull"; "a low-down sneak"; "his miserable treatment of his family"; "You miserable skunk!"; "a scummy rabble"; "a scurvy trick" [syn: abject]
7.	low or inferior in station or quality; "a humble cottage"; "a lowly parish priest"; "a modest man of the people"; "small beginnings" [syn: humble]
8.	no longer sufficient; "supplies are low"; "our funds are depleted" [syn: depleted]
9.	subdued or brought low in condition or status; "brought low"; "a broken man"; "his broken spirit" [syn: broken]
10.	filled with melancholy and despondency ; "gloomy at the thought of what he had to face"; "gloomy predictions"; "a gloomy silence"; "took a grim view of the economy"; "the darkening mood"; "lonely and blue in a strange city"; "depressed by the loss of his job"; "a dispirited and resigned expression on her face"; "downcast after his defeat"; "feeling discouraged and downhearted"
adverb
1.	in a low position; near the ground; "the branches hung low"
noun
1.	an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation; "a low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow"
2.	British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)
3.	a low level or position or degree; "the stock market fell to a new low" [ant: high]
4.	the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving [syn: first gear]
verb
1.	make a low noise, characteristic of bovines [syn: moo]

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

low

In addition to the idioms beginning with low, also see at a low ebb; (low) boiling point; high and low; keep a low profile; lay someone low; lie low.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
low1 [ləu] adjective

not at or reaching up to a great distance from the ground, sea-level etc
Example: low hills; a low ceiling; This chair is too low for the child.

Arabic:	واطئ
Chinese (Simplified):	低的
Chinese (Traditional):	低的
Czech:	nízký
Danish:	lav
Dutch:	laag
Estonian:	madal
Finnish:	matala
French:	bas
German:	niedrig
Greek:	χαμηλός
Hungarian:	alacsony
Icelandic:	lágur
Indonesian:	rendah
Japanese:	低い

Korean:	?키·높이가? 낮은
Latvian:	zems
Lithuanian:	žemas, neaukštas
Norwegian:	lav; grunn
Polish:	niski
Portuguese (Brazil):	baixo
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixo
Romanian:	jos; scund, mic
Russian:	низкий
Slovak:	nízky
Slovenian:	nizek
Spanish:	bajo
Swedish:	låg
Turkish:	alçak

low2 [ləu] adjective

making little sound; not loud
Example: She spoke in a low voice.

Arabic:	خَفيض، مُنْخَفِض
Chinese (Simplified):	低声的
Chinese (Traditional):	低聲的
Czech:	tichý
Danish:	lav; dæmpet
Dutch:	zacht
Estonian:	vaikne
Finnish:	hiljainen
French:	bas
German:	leise
Greek:	χαμηλόφωνος
Hungarian:	halk
Icelandic:	lágvær
Indonesian:	pelahan

Japanese:	小さい
Latvian:	(par skaņu) kluss
Lithuanian:	tylus
Norwegian:	lav(mælt), svak, dempet
Polish:	cichy
Portuguese (Brazil):	baixo
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixo
Romanian:	jos
Russian:	тихий
Slovak:	tichý
Slovenian:	tih
Spanish:	bajo
Swedish:	låg
Turkish:	alçak

low3 [ləu] adjective

at the bottom of the range of musical sounds
Example: That note is too low for a female voice.

Arabic:	خافِت، في أسْفَل السُّلَّم الموسيقي
Chinese (Simplified):	低音的
Chinese (Traditional):	低音的
Czech:	nízký
Danish:	dyb
Dutch:	laag
Estonian:	madal
Finnish:	matala
French:	bas
German:	tief
Greek:	χαμηλός (μουσ.)
Hungarian:	mély
Icelandic:	djúpur
Indonesian:	rendah
Japanese:	低音の

Korean:	?음·소리가? 낮은
Latvian:	(par balsi, toni) zems
Lithuanian:	žemas
Norwegian:	dyp
Polish:	niski
Portuguese (Brazil):	baixo
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixo
Romanian:	grav
Russian:	низкий
Slovak:	nízky, hlboký
Slovenian:	nizek
Spanish:	bajo
Swedish:	låg
Turkish:	pes, kalın

low4 [ləu] adjective

small
Example: a low price

Arabic:	مُنْخَفِض
Chinese (Simplified):	低廉的
Chinese (Traditional):	低廉的
Czech:	nízký
Danish:	lav
Dutch:	laag
Estonian:	madal
Finnish:	alhainen, halpa
French:	bas
German:	niedrig
Greek:	χαμηλός, μικρός
Hungarian:	kis, alacsony
Icelandic:	lágur, lítill
Indonesian:	rendah
Japanese:	安い

Korean:	?수량·정도·가치·비율 등이? 낮은, 적은
Latvian:	zems; lēts
Lithuanian:	žemas, nedidelis
Norwegian:	lav
Polish:	niski
Portuguese (Brazil):	baixo
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixo
Romanian:	scăzut
Russian:	небольшой
Slovak:	nízky
Slovenian:	nizek
Spanish:	bajo
Swedish:	låg, obetydlig, ringa
Turkish:	düşük, ucuz

low5 [ləu] adjective

not strong; weak or feeble
Example: The fire was very low.

Arabic:	ضَعيف
Chinese (Simplified):	微弱的
Chinese (Traditional):	微弱的
Czech:	malý
Danish:	svag; ringe
Dutch:	zwak
Estonian:	nõrk
Finnish:	heikko
French:	bas
German:	schwach
Greek:	αδύναμος
Hungarian:	gyenge
Icelandic:	veikur, lítill
Indonesian:	lemah
Japanese:	弱い

Korean:	약한
Latvian:	trūcīgs; izsīcis; vājš
Lithuanian:	išblėsęs, silpnas
Norwegian:	svak
Polish:	wątły
Portuguese (Brazil):	fraco
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixo
Romanian:	scăzut
Russian:	слабый
Slovak:	malý, slabý, chabý
Slovenian:	šibek
Spanish:	bajo
Swedish:	svag, kraftlös
Turkish:	zayıf

low6 [ləu] adjective

near the bottom in grade, rank, class etc
Example: low temperatures; the lower classes

Arabic:	واطئ، مُنْخَفِض
Chinese (Simplified):	低下的
Chinese (Traditional):	低下的
Czech:	nízký, nižší
Danish:	lav; lavere; nedre
Dutch:	laag
Estonian:	madal, alg-
Finnish:	alhainen, ala-
French:	bas
German:	niedrig
Greek:	χαμηλός (π.χ. για βαθμό, ιεραρχία κτλ.)
Hungarian:	alacsony, alsó(bb)
Icelandic:	lágur
Indonesian:	rendah
Japanese:	低い

Korean:	저학년의
Latvian:	zems; zemas kārtas-; vulgārs
Lithuanian:	žemas
Norwegian:	lav
Polish:	niski
Portuguese (Brazil):	baixo, inferior
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixo
Romanian:	scăzut
Russian:	низкий; низший
Slovak:	nízky, nižší
Slovenian:	nizek
Spanish:	bajo
Swedish:	låg, lågt stående, lägre
Turkish:	alt

low [ləu] adverb

in or to a low position, manner or state
Example: The ball flew low over the net.

Arabic:	مُنْخَفِضا، بِصَوْتٍ مُنْخَفِض
Chinese (Simplified):	向下地
Chinese (Traditional):	向下地
Czech:	nízko
Danish:	lavt
Dutch:	laag
Estonian:	madalalt
French:	bas
German:	niedrig
Greek:	χαμηλά
Hungarian:	alacsonyan
Icelandic:	lágt
Indonesian:	rendah
Japanese:	低く

Korean:	낮게, 낮은 곳으로
Latvian:	zemu; vāji; klusi; trūcīgi; lēti
Lithuanian:	žemai
Norwegian:	lavt
Polish:	nisko
Portuguese (Brazil):	baixo
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixo
Romanian:	aproape de
Russian:	низко
Slovak:	nízko
Slovenian:	nizko
Spanish:	bajo
Swedish:	lågt
Turkish:	aşağı doğru, …-e, *-a yakın

low [ləu] verb

to make the noise of cattle; to moo
Example: The cows were lowing.

Arabic:	يخور، يَجْأر
Chinese (Simplified):	（牛等）哞哞叫
Chinese (Traditional):	(牛等)哞哞叫
Czech:	bučet
Danish:	brøle
Dutch:	loeien
Estonian:	ammuma
Finnish:	mylviä
French:	meugler
German:	brüllen
Greek:	μουγκανίζω
Hungarian:	bőg (tehén)
Icelandic:	baula
Indonesian:	melenguh
Japanese:	モーと鳴く

Korean:	(소가) 음매 울다; 울부짖듯이 말하다
Latvian:	maurot; baurot
Lithuanian:	bliauti, mykti
Norwegian:	raute
Polish:	ryczeć
Portuguese (Brazil):	mugir
Portuguese (Portugal):	mugir
Romanian:	a mugi
Russian:	мычать
Slovak:	bučať
Slovenian:	mukati
Spanish:	mugir
Swedish:	råma, böla
Turkish:	böğürmek

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: low
Pronunciation: 'lO
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: low·er /'lO(-&)r/; low·est /'lO-&st/
: having a relatively less complex organization : not greatly differentiated or developed phylogenetically —usually used in the comparative degree of less advanced types ofplants and animals lower vertebrates> lower eukaryotes —Malcolm Potts etal>; —compare HIGH 1

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Low Moor, IA (city, FIPS 47010) Location: 41.80236 N, 90.35429 W
Population (1990): 280 (120 housing units)
Area: 1.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Show Low, AZ (city, FIPS 66470) Location: 34.23733 N, 110.04430 W
Population (1990): 5019 (3116 housing units)
Area: 71.2 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 85901

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

low

A*cute"\, a. [L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr. a root ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge.]

1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf.

2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to dull or stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning.

3. Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen; intense; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling; acute pain or pleasure.

4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent.

5. (Med.) Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease.

Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle.

Syn: Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp-witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See Subtile.

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low

High\, a. [Compar. Higher; superl. Highest.] [OE. high, hegh, hey, heh, AS. he['a]h, h?h; akin to OS. h?h, OFries. hag, hach, D. hoog, OHG. h?h, G. hoch, Icel. h?r, Sw. h["o]g, Dan. h["o]i, Goth. hauhs, and to Icel. haugr mound, G. h["u]gel hill, Lith. kaukaras.]

1. Elevated above any starting point of measurement, as a line, or surface; having altitude; lifted up; raised or extended in the direction of the zenith; lofty; tall; as, a high mountain, tower, tree; the sun is high.

2. Regarded as raised up or elevated; distinguished; remarkable; conspicuous; superior; -- used indefinitely or relatively, and often in figurative senses, which are understood from the connection; as (a) Elevated in character or quality, whether moral or intellectual; pre["e]minent; honorable; as, high aims, or motives. "The highest faculty of the soul." --Baxter. (b) Exalted in social standing or general estimation, or in rank, reputation, office, and the like; dignified; as, she was welcomed in the highest circles.

He was a wight of high renown. --Shak. (c) Of noble birth; illustrious; as, of high family. (d) Of great strength, force, importance, and the like; strong; mighty; powerful; violent; sometimes, triumphant; victorious; majestic, etc.; as, a high wind; high passions. "With rather a high manner." --Thackeray.

Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. --Ps. lxxxix. 13.

Can heavenly minds such high resentment show? --Dryden.

(e) Very abstract; difficult to comprehend or surmount; grand; noble.

Both meet to hear and answer such high things. --Shak.

Plain living and high thinking are no more. --Wordsworth. (f) Costly; dear in price; extravagant; as, to hold goods at a high price.

If they must be good at so high a rate, they know they may be safe at a cheaper. --South. (g) Arrogant; lofty; boastful; proud; ostentatious; -- used in a bad sense.

An high look and a proud heart . . . is sin. --Prov. xxi. 4.

His forces, after all the high discourses, amounted really but to eighteen hundred foot. --Clarendon.

3. Possessing a characteristic quality in a supreme or superior degree; as, high (i. e., intense) heat; high (i. e., full or quite) noon; high (i. e., rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i. e., complete) pleasure; high (i. e., deep or vivid) color; high (i. e., extensive, thorough) scholarship, etc.

High time it is this war now ended were. --Spenser.

High sauces and spices are fetched from the Indies. --Baker.

4. (Cookery) Strong-scented; slightly tainted; as, epicures do not cook game before it is high.

5. (Mus.) Acute or sharp; -- opposed to grave or low; as, a high note.

6. (Phon.) Made with a high position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate, as [=e] ([=e]ve), [=oo] (f[=oo]d). See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 10, 11.

High admiral, the chief admiral.

High altar, the principal altar in a church.

High and dry, out of water; out of reach of the current or tide; -- said of a vessel, aground or beached.

High and mighty arrogant; overbearing. [Colloq.]

High art, art which deals with lofty and dignified subjects and is characterized by an elevated style avoiding all meretricious display.

High bailiff, the chief bailiff.

High Church, & Low Church, two ecclesiastical parties in the Church of England and the Protestant Episcopal Church. The high-churchmen emphasize the doctrine of the apostolic succession, and hold, in general, to a sacramental presence in the Eucharist, to baptismal regeneration, and to the sole validity of Episcopal ordination. They attach much importance to ceremonies and symbols in worship. Low-churchmen lay less stress on these points, and, in many instances, reject altogether the peculiar tenets of the high-church school. See Broad Church.

High constable (Law), a chief of constabulary. See Constable, n., 2.

High commission court,a court of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in England erected and united to the regal power by Queen Elizabeth in 1559. On account of the abuse of its powers it was abolished in 1641.

High day (Script.), a holy or feast day. --John xix. 31.

High festival (Eccl.), a festival to be observed with full ceremonial.

High German, or High Dutch. See under German.

High jinks, an old Scottish pastime; hence, noisy revelry; wild sport. [Colloq.] "All the high jinks of the county, when the lad comes of age." --F. Harrison.

High latitude (Geog.), one designated by the higher figures; consequently, a latitude remote from the equator.

High life, life among the aristocracy or the rich.

High liver, one who indulges in a rich diet.

High living, a feeding upon rich, pampering food.

High Mass. (R. C. Ch.) See under Mass.

High milling, a process of making flour from grain by several successive grindings and intermediate sorting, instead of by a single grinding.

High noon, the time when the sun is in the meridian.

High place (Script.), an eminence or mound on which sacrifices were offered.

High priest. See in the Vocabulary.

High relief. (Fine Arts) See Alto-rilievo.

High school. See under School.

High seas (Law), the open sea; the part of the ocean not in the territorial waters of any particular sovereignty, usually distant three miles or more from the coast line. --Wharton.

High steam, steam having a high pressure.

High steward, the chief steward.

High tea, tea with meats and extra relishes.

High tide, the greatest flow of the tide; high water.

High time. (a) Quite time; full time for the occasion. (b) A time of great excitement or enjoyment; a carousal. [Slang]

High treason, treason against the sovereign or the state, the highest civil offense. See Treason.

Note: It is now sufficient to speak of high treason as treason simply, seeing that petty treason, as a distinct offense, has been abolished. --Mozley & W.

High water, the utmost flow or greatest elevation of the tide; also, the time of such elevation.

High-water mark. (a) That line of the seashore to which the waters ordinarily reach at high water. (b) A mark showing the highest level reached by water in a river or other body of fresh water, as in time of freshet.

High-water shrub (Bot.), a composite shrub (Iva frutescens), growing in salt marshes along the Atlantic coast of the United States.

High wine, distilled spirits containing a high percentage of alcohol; -- usually in the plural.

To be on a high horse, to be on one's dignity; to bear one's self loftily. [Colloq.]

With a high hand. (a) With power; in force; triumphantly. "The children of Israel went out with a high hand." --Ex. xiv. 8. (b) In an overbearing manner, arbitrarily. "They governed the city with a high hand." --Jowett (Thucyd. ).

Syn: Tall; lofty; elevated; noble; exalted; supercilious; proud; violent; full; dear. See Tall.

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low

High\, n. 1. An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.

2. People of rank or high station; as, high and low.

3. (Card Playing) The highest card dealt or drawn.

High, low, jack, and the game, a game at cards; -- also called all fours, old sledge, and seven up.

In high and low, utterly; completely; in every respect. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

On high, aloft; above.

The dayspring from on high hath visited us. --Luke i. 78.

The Most High, the Supreme Being; God.

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Low

Lie\, v. i. [imp. Lay (l[=a]); p. p. Lain (l[=a]n), (Lien (l[imac]"[e^]n), Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Lying.] [OE. lien, liggen, AS. licgan; akin to D. liggen, OHG. ligen, licken, G. liegen, Icel. liggja, Sw. ligga, Dan. ligge, Goth. ligan, Russ. lejate, L. lectus bed, Gr. le`chos bed, le`xasqai to lie. Cf. Lair, Law, Lay, v. t., Litter, Low, adj.]

1. To rest extended on the ground, a bed, or any support; to be, or to put one's self, in an horizontal position, or nearly so; to be prostate; to be stretched out; -- often with down, when predicated of living creatures; as, the book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin.

The watchful traveler . . . Lay down again, and closed his weary eyes. --Dryden.

2. To be situated; to occupy a certain place; as, Ireland lies west of England; the meadows lie along the river; the ship lay in port.

3. To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition; as, to lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hid; to lie grieving; to lie under one's displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves; the paper does not lie smooth on the wall.

4. To be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist; -- with in.

Envy lies between beings equal in nature, though unequal in circumstances. --Collier.

He that thinks that diversion may not lie in hard labor, forgets the early rising and hard riding of huntsmen. --Locke.

5. To lodge; to sleep.

Whiles I was now trifling at home, I saw London, . . . where I lay one night only. --Evelyn.

Mr. Quinion lay at our house that night. --Dickens.

6. To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.

The wind is loud and will not lie. --Shak.

7. (Law) To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained. "An appeal lies in this case." --Parsons.

Note: Through ignorance or carelessness speakers and writers often confuse the forms of the two distinct verbs lay and lie. Lay is a transitive verb, and has for its preterit laid; as, he told me to lay it down, and I laid it down. Lie is intransitive, and has for its preterit lay; as, he told me to lie down, and I lay down. Some persons blunder by using laid for the preterit of lie; as, he told me to lie down, and I laid down. So persons often say incorrectly, the ship laid at anchor; they laid by during the storm; the book was laying on the shelf, etc. It is only necessary to remember, in all such cases, that laid is the preterit of lay, and not of lie.

To lie along the shore (Naut.), to coast, keeping land in sight.

To lie at the door of, to be imputable to; as, the sin, blame, etc., lies at your door.

To lie at the heart, to be an object of affection, desire, or anxiety. --Sir W. Temple.

To lie at the mercy of, to be in the power of.

To lie by. (a) To remain with; to be at hand; as, he has the manuscript lying by him. (b) To rest; to intermit labor; as, we lay by during the heat of the day.

To lie hard or heavy, to press or weigh; to bear hard.

To lie in, to be in childbed; to bring forth young.

To lie in one, to be in the power of; to belong to. "As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." --Rom. xii. 18.

To lie in the way, to be an obstacle or impediment.

To lie in wait, to wait in concealment; to lie in ambush.

To lie on or upon. (a) To depend on; as, his life lies on the result. (b) To bear, rest, press, or weigh on.

To lie low, to remain in concealment or inactive. [Slang]

To lie on hand,

To lie on one's hands, to remain unsold or unused; as, the goods are still lying on his hands; they have too much time lying on their hands.

To lie on the head of, to be imputed to.

What he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head. --Shak.

To lie over. (a) To remain unpaid after the time when payment is due, as a note in bank. (b) To be deferred to some future occasion, as a resolution in a public deliberative body.

To lie to (Naut.), to stop or delay; especially, to head as near the wind as possible as being the position of greatest safety in a gale; -- said of a ship. Cf. To bring to, under Bring.

To lie under, to be subject to; to suffer; to be oppressed by.

To lie with. (a) To lodge or sleep with. (b) To have sexual intercourse with. (c) To belong to; as, it lies with you to make amends.

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Low

Low\, obs. strong imp. of Laugh. --Chaucer.

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Low

Low\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lowing.] [OE. lowen, AS. hl?wan; akin to D. loeijen, OHG. hl?jan, hluojan.] To make the calling sound of cows and other bovine animals; to moo.

The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. --Gray.

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Low

Low\, n. The calling sound ordinarily made by cows and other bovine animals.

Talking voices and the law of herds. --Wordsworth.

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Low

Low\, n. [AS. hl[=a]w; akin to Goth. hlaiw a grave, hlains a hill, and to E. lean to incline.] A hill; a mound; a grave. [Obs. except in place names.] --Skeat.

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Low

Low\, n. [Icel. log, logi; akin to E. light, n.] Fire; a flame; a light. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

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Low

Low\, v. i. To burn; to blaze. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] --Burns.

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LOW

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low

low: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

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