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

low·er1

[loh-er] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

1.	to cause to descend; let or put down: to lower a flag.

2.	to make lower in height or level: to lower the water in a canal.

3.	to reduce in amount, price, degree, force, etc.

4.	to make less loud: Please lower your voice.

5.	to bring down in rank or estimation; degrade; humble; abase (oneself), as by some sacrifice of self-respect or dignity: His bad actions lowered him in my eyes.

6.	Music. to make lower in pitch; flatten.

7.	Phonetics. to alter the articulation of (a vowel) by increasing the distance of the tongue downward from the palate: The vowel of “clerk” is lowered to (ä) in the British pronunciation.

–verb (used without object)

8.	to become lower, grow less, or diminish, as in amount, intensity, or degree: The brook lowers in early summer. Stock prices rise and lower constantly.

9.	to descend; sink: the sun lowering in the west.

–adjective

10.	comparative of low¹.

11.	of or pertaining to those portions of a river farthest from the source.

12.	(often initial capital letter) Stratigraphy. noting an early division of a period, system, or the like: the Lower Devonian.

–noun

13.	a denture for the lower jaw.

14.	a lower berth.

[Origin: 1150–1200; ME, comp. of low¹ (adj.)

]

—Related forms

low·er·a·ble, adjective

—Synonyms 1. drop, depress. 3. decrease, diminish, lessen. 4. soften. 5. humiliate, dishonor, disgrace, debase.

—Antonyms 3. raise, increase. 5. elevate, honor.

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

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low·er2

[lou-er, lou^uh

r] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used without object)

1.	to be dark and threatening, as the sky or the weather.

2.	to frown, scowl, or look sullen; glower: He lowers at people when he's in a bad mood.

–noun

3.	a dark, threatening appearance, as of the sky or weather.

4.	a frown or scowl.

Also, lour.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME lour (n.), louren (v.) to frown, lurk; akin to G lauern, D loeren

]

—Synonyms 1. darken, threaten.

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

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

low1

[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.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

low¹ (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.

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low·er¹ (lou'ər, lour) Pronunciation Key
intr.v. low·ered also loured, low·er·ing also lour·ing, low·ers also lours

To look angry, sullen, or threatening. See Synonyms at frown.
To appear dark or threatening, as the sky.

A threatening, sullen, or angry look.
A dark and ominous look: the lower of thunderheads.

[Middle English louren.]

low'er·ing·ly adv.

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low·er² (lō'ər) Pronunciation Key
adj. Comparative of low²

Below another in rank, position, or authority.
Physically situated below a similar or comparable thing: a lower shelf.
Lower Geology & Archaeology Relating to or being an earlier or older division of the period named.
Biology Less advanced in organization or evolutionary development.
Denoting the larger and usually more representative house of a bicameral legislature.

v. low·ered, low·er·ing, low·ers

v. tr.

To let, bring, or move down to a lower level.
To reduce in value, degree, or quality.
To weaken; undermine: lower one's energy.
To reduce in standing or respect.

v. intr.

To move down: Her hand lowered.
To become less; diminish: The temperature has lowered gradually this month.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
lower (v.1)

"to cause to descend," 1606, from lower (adj.), from M.E. lahghere (c.1200), comp. of low (adj.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
lower (v.2)

(also lour), M.E. louren, luren "to frown, lurk," from O.E. *luran or from its cognates, M.L.G. luren, M.Du. loeren "lie in wait."

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

lower
noun
1.	the lower of two berths [syn: lower berth]
verb
1.	move something or somebody to a lower position; "take down the vase from the shelf" [ant: bring up]
2.	set lower; "lower a rating"; "lower expectations"
3.	make lower or quieter; "turn down the volume of a radio" [syn: turn down]
4.	cause to drop or sink; "The lack of rain had depressed the water level in the reservoir"
5.	look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval [syn: frown]

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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

lower (lō'ər) Pronunciation Key

Being an earlier division of the geological or archaeological period named. Compare upper.

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

Lower Brule, SD (CDP, FIPS 39180) Location: 44.07399 N, 99.58249 W
Population (1990): 655 (182 housing units)
Area: 0.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 57548

Lower Kalskag, AK (city, FIPS 45460) Location: 61.51876 N, 160.34991 W
Population (1990): 291 (73 housing units)
Area: 3.3 sq km (land), 1.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 99626

Lower Lake, CA (CDP, FIPS 44350) Location: 38.91120 N, 122.61026 W
Population (1990): 1217 (628 housing units)
Area: 10.0 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 95457

Lower Allen, PA (CDP, FIPS 44824) Location: 40.22633 N, 76.90072 W
Population (1990): 6329 (2921 housing units)
Area: 6.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Lower Burrell, PA (city, FIPS 44864) Location: 40.58240 N, 79.71305 W
Population (1990): 12251 (4916 housing units)
Area: 29.9 sq km (land), 0.7 sq km (water)

Lower Salem, OH (village, FIPS 45220) Location: 39.56354 N, 81.39459 W
Population (1990): 103 (43 housing units)
Area: 0.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Lower Peach Tree, AL Zip code(s): 36751

Lower Grand Lagoon, FL (CDP, FIPS 41562) Location: 30.14385 N, 85.75079 W
Population (1990): 3329 (5152 housing units)
Area: 5.7 sq km (land), 1.3 sq km (water)

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

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

Lower

Low"er\, a. Compar. of Low, a.

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

Lower

Low"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lowered; p. pr. & vb. n. Lowering.] [From Low, a.]

1. To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down; as, to lower a bucket into a well; to lower a sail or a boat; sometimes, to pull down; as, to lower a flag.

Lowered softly with a threefold cord of love Down to a silent grave. --Tennyson.

2. To reduce the height of; as, to lower a fence or wall; to lower a chimney or turret.

3. To depress as to direction; as, to lower the aim of a gun; to make less elevated as to object; as, to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes.

4. To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of; as, to lower the temperature of anything; to lower one's vitality; to lower distilled liquors.

5. To bring down; to humble; as, to lower one's pride.

6. To reduce in value, amount, etc.; as, to lower the price of goods, the rate of interest, etc.

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

Lower

Low"er\, v. i. To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease; as, the river lowered as rapidly as it rose.

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

Lower

Low"er\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lowered; p. pr. & vb. n. Lowering.] [OE. lowren, luren; cf. D. loeren, LG. luren. G. lauern to lurk, to be on the watch, and E. leer, lurk.]

1. To be dark, gloomy, and threatening, as clouds; to be covered with dark and threatening clouds, as the sky; to show threatening signs of approach, as a tempest.

All the clouds that lowered upon our house. --Shak.

2. To frown; to look sullen.

But sullen discontent sat lowering on her face. --Dryden.

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

Lower

Low"er\, n. [Obs.]

1. Cloudiness; gloominess.

2. A frowning; sullenness.

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