frown - Definitions from Dictionary.com

9 results for: frown

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

frown

–verb (used without object)

1.	to contract the brow, as in displeasure or deep thought; scowl.

2.	to look displeased; have an angry look.

3.	to view with disapproval; look disapprovingly (usually fol. by on or upon): to frown upon a scheme.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to express by a frown: to frown one's displeasure.

5.	to force or shame with a disapproving frown: to frown someone into silence.

–noun

6.	a frowning look; scowl.

7.	any expression or show of disapproval: a tax bill that received Congressional frowns.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME frounen < OF froignier, deriv. of froigne surly expression, prob. < Gaulish *frognā; cf. Welsh ffroen, OBreton fron nostril, OIr srón nose < Celtic *srognā or *sroknā

]

—Related forms

frowner, noun

frown·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. glower, lower, gloom.

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

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
frown

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

frown Audio Help   (froun) Pronunciation Key
v.   frowned, frown·ing, frowns

v.   intr.

To wrinkle the brow, as in thought or displeasure.
To regard something with disapproval or distaste: frowned on the use of so much salt in the food.

v. tr.
To express (disapproval, for example) by wrinkling the brow.

n. A wrinkling of the brow in thought or displeasure; a scowl.

[Middle English frounen, from Old French froigner, to turn up one's nose, from frogne, grimace, of Celtic origin.]

frown'er n., frown'ing·ly adv.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to contract the brows in displeasure: frowns when he is annoyed; glowered upon being interrupted; lowering at the noisy child; scowled at my suggestion.

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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.

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

c.1395, from O.Fr. froignier "to frown or scowl, snort," related to frongne "scowling look," probably from Gaulish *frogna "nostril" (cf. Welsh ffroen "nose"), with a sense of "snort," or perhaps "haughty grimace." The noun is from 1581.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

frown
noun
1.	a facial expression of dislike or displeasure
verb
1.	look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
frown [fraun] verb

to make the forehead wrinkle and the eyebrows move down (as a sign of worry, disapproval, deep thought etc)
Example: He frowned at her bad behaviour.

Arabic:	يَعْبِس، يُقَطِّب حاجِبيه
Chinese (Simplified):	皱眉
Chinese (Traditional):	皺眉
Czech:	(za)mračit se
Danish:	rynke panden
Dutch:	fronsen
Estonian:	kulmu kortsutama
Finnish:	kurtistaa kulmiaan
French:	froncer les sourcils
German:	die Stirn runzeln
Greek:	συνοφρυώνομαι, δυσανασχετώ
Hungarian:	szemöldököt ráncol
Icelandic:	hleypa brúnum, yggla sig
Indonesian:	mengerutkan muka
Italian:	accigliarsi, aggrottare le ciglia, sopracciglia

Japanese:	まゆをひそめる
Korean:	눈살을 찌푸리다, 얼굴을 찡그리다, 싫은 얼굴을 하다
Latvian:	raukt pieri
Lithuanian:	susiraukti
Norwegian:	rynke pannen, skule, se morskt på
Polish:	marszczyć brwi
Portuguese (Brazil):	franzir a testa
Portuguese (Portugal):	franzir a testa
Romanian:	a se încrunta
Russian:	хмуриться
Slovak:	mračiť sa
Slovenian:	namrščiti obrvi
Spanish:	fruncir el ceño
Swedish:	rynka pannan
Turkish:	kaşlarını çatmak

frown [fraun] noun

such a movement of the forehead and eyebrows
Example: a frown of disapproval

Arabic:	عُبوس، تَقْطيب الحاجبين
Chinese (Simplified):	皱眉
Chinese (Traditional):	皺眉
Czech:	zamračený pohled, *výraz
Danish:	panderynken
Dutch:	frons
Estonian:	kulmukortsutus
Finnish:	kulmien kurtistus
French:	froncement de sourcils
German:	das Stirnrunzeln
Greek:	συνοφρύωμα
Hungarian:	szemöldökráncolás
Icelandic:	gretta, ygglibrún
Indonesian:	kerutan muka
Italian:	cipiglio

Japanese:	しかめ面
Korean:	찡그림
Latvian:	saraukta piere
Lithuanian:	susiraukimas
Norwegian:	rynket panne, morskt, *skulende blikk
Polish:	zmarszczenie brwi
Portuguese (Brazil):	cenho
Portuguese (Portugal):	carranca
Romanian:	încruntătură
Russian:	хмурый взгляд
Slovak:	zamračený výraz
Slovenian:	mrščenje obrvi
Spanish:	ceño
Swedish:	rynkad panna, bister uppsyn
Turkish:	kaş çatma

See also: frown on/upon

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

Frown

Frown\, v. i. [imp. &, p. p. Frowned; p. pr. & vb. n. Frowning.] [OF. froignier, F. frogner, in se refrogner, se renfrogner, to knit the brow, to frown; perh. of Teutonic origin; cf. It. in frigno wrinkled, frowning, Prov. It. frignare to cringe the face, to make a wry face, dial. Sw. fryna to make a wry face,]

1. To contract the brow in displeasure, severity, or sternness; to scowl; to put on a stern, grim, or surly look.

The frowning wrinkle of her brow. --Shak.

2. To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavor or threateningly; to lower; as, polite society frowns upon rudeness.

The sky doth frown and lower upon our army. --Shak.

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

Frown

Frown\, v. t. To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look; as, frown the impudent fellow into silence.

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

Frown

Frown\, n. 1. A wrinkling of the face in displeasure, rebuke, etc.; a sour, severe, or stere look; a scowl.

His front yet threatens, and his frowns command. --Prior.

Her very frowns are fairer far Than smiles of other maidens are. --H. Coleridge.

2. Any expression of displeasure; as, the frowns of Providence; the frowns of Fortune.

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