Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

brow

noun (1)
\ ˈbrau̇ \

Definition of brow

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : eyebrow
b : forehead
2 : the projecting upper part or margin of a steep place
3 : expression, mien

brow

noun (2)

Definition of brow (Entry 2 of 2)

: gangplank

First Known Use of brow

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1867, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for brow

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English brū; akin to Old Norse brūn eyebrow, Greek ophrys, Sanskrit bhrū

Noun (2)

perhaps from Danish or Swedish bro bridge; akin to Old English brycg bridge

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about brow

Statistics for brow

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for brow

The first known use of brow was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for brow

brow

noun
\ ˈbrau̇ \

Kids Definition of brow

1 : eyebrow
2 : forehead
3 : the upper edge of a steep slope

brow

noun
\ ˈbrau̇ \

Medical Definition of brow

1 : eyebrow
2 : either of the lateral prominences of the forehead
3 : forehead

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on brow

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with brow

Spanish Central: Translation of brow

Nglish: Translation of brow for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of brow for Arabic Speakers

Comments on brow

What made you want to look up brow? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

gargantuan

tremendous in size, volume, or degree

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

TRENDING NOW

  1. cache BuzzFeed reports on Trump-Cohen documents.

  2. intransigence, intransigent Trump cancels Davos trip.

  3. white supremacist Steve King discusses views.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games