frown
Audio Help [froun] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [froun] Pronunciation Key –verb (used without object)
–verb (used with object)
–noun
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
frown
To learn more about frown visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| frown
Audio Help (froun) Pronunciation Key
v. frowned, frown·ing, frowns v. intr.
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. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| 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 |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
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.
frown [fraun] nounExample: He frowned at her bad behaviour.
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such a movement of the forehead and eyebrows
Example: a frown of disapproval
See also: frown on/uponExample: a frown of disapproval
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
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, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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