low Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
low1 definition

low (lō)

adjective

    1. of little height or elevation; not high or tall
    2. not far above the ground low clouds
  2. depressed below the surrounding surface or normal elevation low land
  3. of little depth; shallow the river is low
  4. of little quantity, degree, intensity, value, etc. a low cost, low pressure, a low profile
  5. of less than normal height, elevation, depth, quantity, degree, power, etc.
  6. below others in order, position, rating, etc. low man on the team, low marks
  7. near the horizon the sun was low
  8. near the equator a low latitude
  9. cut so as to expose the neck or part of the shoulders, chest, or back; décolleté a dress with a low neckline
    1. Rare prostrate or dead
    2. in hiding or obscurity to stay low
  11. deep; profound a low bow
  12. lacking energy; enfeebled; weak
  13. depressed in spirits; melancholy
  14. not of high rank; humble; plebeian a man of low origin
  15. vulgar; coarse; debased; undignified
  16. mean; despicable; contemptible a low trick
  17. poor; slight; unfavorable to have a low opinion of someone
  18. containing less than a normal amount of some usual element low in calories, low-salt diet
  19. not advanced in evolution, development, complexity, etc.; inferior a low form of plant life
  20. relatively recent a manuscript of a low date
  21. ☆ designating or of that gear ratio of a motor vehicle transmission which produces the lowest speed and the greatest torque
    1. not well supplied with; short of: with on low on ammunition
    2. Informal not having any or much money; short of ready cash
  23. of little intensity; not loud: said of a sound
  24. designating or producing tones made by relatively slow vibrations; deep in pitch
  25. very informal and permissive in matters of ceremony, doctrine, etc.
  26. Phonet. articulated with the tongue held relatively low in the mouth: said of certain vowels, as (ä) in far

Etymology: ME lah < ON lagr, akin to MDu lage, MLowG læge < IE base *legh-, lie

adverb

  1. in, at, to, or toward a low degree, level, place, position, etc. hit them low
  2. in a low manner
  3. quietly; softly speak low
  4. with a deep pitch

noun

something low; specif.,
  1. ☆ that gear of a motor vehicle, etc., producing the lowest speed and the greatest torque: also, an arrangement similar to this in an automatic transmission
  2. a low degree, level, place, position, etc.
  3. ☆ Meteorol. an area of low barometric pressure

Related Forms:

low Idioms

lay low

  1. to cause to fall by hitting
  2. to overcome or kill

lie low

  1. ☆ to keep oneself hidden or inconspicuous
  2. ☆ to wait patiently for an opportunity
low2 definition

low (lō)

intransitive verb

to make the characteristic vocal sound of a cow; moo

Etymology: ME lowen < OE hlowan, akin to ON hloa, to roar < IE base *kel-, to cry > L clamor

transitive verb

to express by lowing

noun

the characteristic sound of a cow
low3 definition

low (lō)

noun, intransitive verb

Scot., North Eng. flame or blaze

Etymology: ME loghe < ON logi, akin to MHG lohe, flame: for IE base see light

Low definition

Low (lō)

  1. Low, Sir David 1891-1963; Brit. political cartoonist, born in New Zealand
  2. Low, Juliette (born Juliette Gordon) 1860-1927; U.S. founder of the Girl Scouts

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms low idiom

low Synonyms

low

modif.

  1. Close to the earth

    squat, flat, level, low-lying, profound, decumbent, prostrate, crouched, below, ankle-high, not far above the horizon, low-hanging, lowering, knee-high, beneath, under, depressed, sunken, nether, inferior, unelevated, lying under; see also deep 1.

    Antonyms high*, lofty*, elevated. *

  2. Quiet

    muffled, hushed, quiet; see faint 3.

  3. Low in spirits

    dejected, moody, blue; see sad 1.

  4. Base

    base, mean, coarse, despicable; see mean 1, vulgar 1.

  5. Faint

    ill, dizzy, feeble; see sick, weak 1.

  6. Simple

    economical, moderate, inexpensive; see cheap 1. See syn. study at mean.

lay low

bring to ruin, overcome, kill; see destroy 1.

lie low

wait, conceal oneself, take cover; see hide 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

low Usage Examples

Object

  • fol-: If the command is fol- lowed by digits, executing universal-argument again ends the numeric argument, but is otherwise ignored.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • keep: Stirling, and later Wainwright managed to keep the axle weight very low.

Modifies a noun

  • level: There is a low level of trust by the general public in the industry.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Credit losses remained low at 3 % of outstanding balances.

Preposition: in

  • fat: Cooked, peeled single prawns from the North Atlantic are naturally low in fat, with good protein content to boost energy levels.
low usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

low quotes

He that is down needs fear no fall, He that is low no pride. He that is humble ever shall Have God to be his guide.

-Bunyan,John

This only grant me, that my means may lie Too low for envy, for contempt too high.

-Cowley, Abraham

A foggy day in LondonTown Had me low and had me down.

-Gershwin, Ira originally Israel Gershowitz

low quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"low." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/low>

APA Style

low. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/low

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment