Search results for 'low':

low¹ adj (lower, lowest) 1 said of a building, hill, etc: measuring comparatively little from top to bottom. 2 close to the ground, sea-level, the horizon, etc • low cloud. 3 said of a temperature, volume of water, score, etc: measuring comparatively less than is usual or average • The river is low. 4 having little value; not costing very much. 5 said of numbers: small. 6 not near the top • Shopping was low on her list of priorities. 7 coarse, rude, vulgar, etc. 8 being of humble rank or position. 9 not very advanced; unsophisticated • Worms are a low form of animal life. 10 said of the neckline of a garment: leaving the neck and upper part of the chest bare. 11 said of a sound, note, voice, etc: a quiet; soft • The fridge gives out a low hum; b produced by slow vibrations and having a deep pitch. 12 a weak; lacking in energy or vitality • feeling low after the operation; b depressed; dispirited • feeling low after losing his job. 13 unfavourable • a low opinion. 14 underhanded; unprincipled • How low can you get? 15 giving a relatively slow engine speed • a low gear. 16 subdued • low lighting. 17 not prominent or conspicuous • keeping a low profile. 18 said of latitudes: near the equator. 19 phonetics said of a vowel: produced with the tongue or part of the tongue comparatively depressed and away from the palate. Also called open. adverb 1 in or to a low position, state or manner • aimed low and fired • brought low by his gambling debts. 2 in a small quantity or to a small degree. 3 said of a sound, etc: a quietly; b with or in a deep pitch. 4 in compounds a not measuring much in a specified respect • low-voltage; b not far off the ground • low-slung; c deeply • low-cut; d lowly • low-born. noun 1 a depth, position, level, etc which is low or lowest • The pound has reached an all-time low. 2 meteorol a cyclone 1. lowness noun. lay low see under lay¹. lie low see under lie². lowest of the low the most contemptible. low in something containing less than the average amount, etc of it • low in fat. low on something 1 sometimes euphemistic not having much of it • We're low on coffee • She's a bit low on the brains front. 2 not having much of it left • running low on petrol.
ETYMOLOGY: 12c: from Norse lagr.

low² verb (lowed, lowing) intrans said of cattle: to make a gentle mooing sound. noun the gentle mooing sound made by cattle. lowing noun.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon hlowan.