low Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation
    depression.
    • a low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow
  2. noun British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)
    David Low; Sir David Alexander Cecil Low; Sir David Low.
  3. noun a low level or position or degree
    • the stock market fell to a new low
  4. noun the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
    low gear; first gear; first.
  5. verb make a low noise, characteristic of bovines
    moo.
  6. adjective less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
    • low prices
    • the reservoir is low
  7. adjective literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension
    • low ceilings
    • low clouds
    • low hills
    • the sun is low
    • low furniture
    • a low bow
  8. adjective satellite very low in volume
    low-toned.
    • a low murmur
    • the low-toned murmur of the surf
  9. adjective satellite unrefined in character
    • low comedy
  10. adjective used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency
    low-pitched.
  11. adjective satellite of the most contemptible kind
    scurvy; low-down; scummy; abject; miserable.
    • abject cowardice
    • a low stunt to pull
    • a low-down sneak
    • his miserable treatment of his family
    • You miserable skunk!
    • a scummy rabble
    • a scurvy trick
  12. adjective satellite low or inferior in station or quality
    small; modest; humble; lowly.
    • a humble cottage
    • a lowly parish priest
    • a modest man of the people
    • small beginnings
  13. adjective satellite no longer sufficient
    depleted.
    • supplies are low
    • our funds are depleted
  14. adjective satellite subdued or brought low in condition or status
    broken; humbled; crushed; humiliated.
    • brought low
    • a broken man
    • his broken spirit
  15. adjective satellite filled with melancholy and despondency
    blue; downhearted; dispirited; down in the mouth; depressed; downcast; down; gloomy; low-spirited; grim.
    • gloomy at the thought of what he had to face
    • gloomy predictions
    • a gloomy silence
    • took a grim view of the economy
    • the darkening mood
    • lonely and blue in a strange city
    • depressed by the loss of his job
    • a dispirited and resigned expression on her face
    • downcast after his defeat
    • feeling discouraged and downhearted
  16. adverb in a low position; near the ground
    • the branches hung low

WordNet

Low obsolete
Definitions
  1. , strong imp. of Laugh. Chaucer.
Low intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. lowen, AS. hlwan; akin to D. loeijen, OHG. hljan, hluojan.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Lowed ; present participle & verbal noun Lowing
Definitions
  1. To make the calling sound of cows and other bovine animals; to moo.
    The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. Gray.
Low noun
Definitions
  1. The calling sound ordinarily made by cows and other bovine animals.
    Talking voices and the law of herds. Wordsworth.
Low noun
Etymology
AS. hlaw; akin to Goth. hlaiw a grave, hlains a hill, and to E. lean to incline.
Definitions
  1. A hill; a mound; a grave. Obs. except in place names. Skeat.
Low noun
Etymology
Icel. log, logi; akin to E. light, n.
Definitions
  1. Fire; a flame; a light. Scot. & Prov. Eng.
Low intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To burn; to blaze. Prov. Eng. & Scot. Burns.
Low adjective
Etymology
OE. low, louh, lah, Icel. lagr; akin to Sw. låg, Dan. lav, D. laag, and E. lie. See Lie to be prostrate.
Wordforms
comparative Lower ; superlative Lowest
Definitions
  1. Occupying an inferior position or place; not high or elevated; depressed in comparison with something else; as, low ground; a low flight.
  2. Not rising to the usual height; as, a man of low stature; a low fence.
  3. Near the horizon; as, the sun is low at four o'clock in winter, and six in summer.
  4. Sunk to the farthest ebb of the tide; as, low tide.
  5. Beneath the usual or remunerative rate or amount, or the ordinary value; moderate; cheap; as, the low price of corn; low wages.
  6. Not loud; as, a low voice; a low sound.
  7. (Mus.) Depressed in the scale of sounds; grave; as, a low pitch; a low note.
  8. (Phon.) Made, as a vowel, with a low position of part of the tongue in relation to the palate; as, (m), (all). See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 5, 10, 11.
  9. Near, or not very distant from, the equator; as, in the low northern latitudes.
  10. Numerically small; as, a low number.
  11. Wanting strength or animation; depressed; dejected; as, low spirits; low in spirits.
  12. Depressed in condition; humble in rank; as, men of low condition; the lower classes.
    Why but to keep ye low and ignorant ? Milton.
  13. Mean; vulgar; base; dishonorable; as, a person of low mind; a low trick or stratagem.
  14. Not elevated or sublime; not exalted or diction; as, a low comparison.
    In comparison of these divine writers, the noblest wits of the heathen world are low and dull. Felton.
  15. Submissive; humble. "Low reverence." Milton.
  16. Deficient in vital energy; feeble; weak; as, a low pulse; made low by sickness.
  17. Moderate; not intense; not inflammatory; as, low heat; a low temperature; a low fever.
  18. Smaller than is reasonable or probable; as, a low estimate.
  19. Not rich, high seasoned, or nourishing; plain; simple; as, a low diet. ✍ Low is often used in the formation of compounds which require no special explanation; as, low-arched, low- browed, low-crowned, low-heeled, low-lying, low-priced, low-roofed, low-toned, low-voiced, and the like.
Low noun
Definitions
  1. (Card Playing) The lowest trump, usually the deuce; the lowest trump dealt or drawn.
Low adverb
Definitions
  1. In a low position or manner; not aloft; not on high; near the ground.
  2. Under the usual price; at a moderate price; cheaply; as, he sold his wheat low.
  3. In a low mean condition; humbly; meanly.
  4. In time approaching our own.
    In that part of the world which was first inhabited, even as low down as Abraham's time, they wandered with their flocks and herds. Locke.
  5. With a low voice or sound; not loudly; gently; as, to speak low. Addison.
    The . . . odorous wind Breathes low between the sunset and the moon. Tennyson.
  6. With a low musical pitch or tone.
    Can sing both high and low. Shak.
  7. In subjection, poverty, or disgrace; as, to be brought low by oppression, by want, or by vice. Spenser.
  8. (Astron.) In a path near the equator, so that the declination is small, or near the horizon, so that the altitude is small; -- said of the heavenly bodies with reference to the diurnal revolution; as, the moon runs low, that is, is comparatively near the horizon when on or near the meridian.
Low transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To depress; to lower. Obs. Swift.

Webster 1913