low

verb (1)

\ ˈlō

lowed; lowing; lows

Definition of low

(Entry 1 of 7)

intransitive verb

: moo in barns cows lowed to be milked— Esther Forbes

low

noun (1)

Definition of low (Entry 2 of 7)

: the deep sustained sound characteristic especially of a cow

low

adjective

lower\ ˈlō-ər

\; lowest\ ˈlō-əst

Definition of low (Entry 3 of 7)

1a : having a small upward extension or elevation a low wall

b : situated or passing little above a reference line, point, or plane low bridges

c(1) : having a low-cut neckline

(2) : not extending as high as the ankle low oxfords

2a : situated or passing below the normal level, surface, or base of measurement, or the mean elevation low ground

b : marking a nadir or bottom the low point of his career

3 : dead —used as a predicate adjective with lay laid the enemy low

4a : not loud : soft

b : flat sense 8a

c : characterized by being toward the bottom of the range of pitch attainable (as by an instrument)

5a : being near the equator low northern latitudes

b : being near the horizon

6 : socially or economically humble in character or status a person of low birth

7a : lacking strength, health, or vitality : weak, prostrate very low with pneumonia

b : lacking spirit or vivacity : depressed a low frame of mind

8a : of lesser degree, size, or amount than average or ordinary low energy

b(1) : small in number or amount

(2) : substandard, inadequate a low level of employment a low income group

(3) : cheap low prices

(4) : short, depleted oil is in low supply

c : of lesser position, rank, or order

9 : falling short of some standard: such as

a : lacking dignity or elevation a low style of writing

b : morally reprehensible : base a low trick

c : coarse, vulgar low language

10a : not advanced in complexity, development, or elaboration low organisms

b often capitalized : low church

11 : unfavorable, disparaging had a low opinion of him

12 : designed for slow and usually the slowest speed low gear

13 : articulated with a wide opening between the relatively flat tongue and the palate : open \ä\ is a low vowel

14 : intended to attract little attention kept a low profile

15 : being near the basket or net a player in the low post

low

noun (2)

Definition of low (Entry 4 of 7)

1 : something that is low: such as

a : depth a new low in advertising

b : a region of low barometric pressure

2 : the transmission gear of an automotive vehicle giving the lowest ratio of driveshaft to crankshaft speed

low

noun (3)

\ ˈlō

variants: or lowe

Definition of low (Entry 5 of 7)

chiefly Scotland

: flame, blaze

low

verb (2)

variants: or lowe

lowed; lowing

Definition of low (Entry 6 of 7)

Scotland

: flame, blaze

Low

biographical name

\ ˈlō

Definition of Low (Entry 7 of 7)

Sir David Alexander Cecil 1891–1963 British cartoonist

Other Words from low Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about low

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Synonyms & Antonyms for low

Synonyms: Adjective

equatorial, tropical

Antonyms: Adjective

polar

Choose the Right Synonym for low

Adjective

base, low, vile mean deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values. base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness. base motives low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety. refused to listen to such low talk vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth. a vile remark

Examples of low in a Sentence

Adjective

The apartment has low ceilings. They have a home in the low country. The houses are built on low ground. temperatures as low as 10 below zero He's being treated for low blood pressure. a low dose of medicine She earns a low salary. Demand for his books has remained low. Temperatures were in the low eighties. Our supply of fuel is getting low.

First Known Use of low

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

circa 1522, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

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

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for low

Verb (1) and Noun (1)

Middle English loowen, lowen, going back to Old English hlōwan, going back to Germanic *hlōan- (whence also Old Saxon hlōinga "mooing," Old Low Franconian luon, luogin "to moo, bellow," Old High German luoen), going back to Indo-European *kloh₁-, presumed o-grade derivative of a verbal base *kleh₁-, *kl̥h₁- "call," whence also Germanic *halōn-, *hulōn- "to summon" (whence Old English geholian "to obtain, get," Old Saxon halon, haloian "to fetch, get, bring," Old High German halōn, holōn "to fetch, send for, summon"), Latin calāre "to announce, summon," Umbrian kařetu "(he must) call," and perhaps Hittite kalliš- "entice, elicit, evoke"

Note: Old English hlōwan is taken to be a Class VII strong verb (as grōwan "to grow," blōwan "to bloom, blow entry 3"), despite the lack of attested forms outside the present tense. The a vocalism of the Greek and Italic forms is variously explained. The suggestion that the base is *kalh₁-, with a primary -a-, eliminates some of the difficulties.

Adjective

Middle English lah, low, from Old Norse lāgr; akin to Middle High German læge low, flat; probably akin to Old English licgan to lie

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Old Norse logi, log; akin to Old English lēoht light — more at light

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Last Updated

14 Jan 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for low

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

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More Definitions for low

low

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of low

: not rising or extending upward a great distance

: extending or reaching upward less than other things of the same kind

: not located far above the ground or another surface

See the full definition for low in the English Language Learners Dictionary

low

verb

\ ˈlō

lowed; lowing

Kids Definition of low

(Entry 1 of 5)

: to make the sound of a cow : moo

low

noun

Kids Definition of low (Entry 2 of 5)

: the mooing of a cow

low

adjective

lower; lowest

Kids Definition of low (Entry 3 of 5)

1 : not high or tall a low building

2 : lying or going below the usual level low ground a low bow

3 : not loud : soft a low whisper

4 : deep in pitch a low voice

5 : not cheerful : sad low spirits

6 : less than usual (as in quantity or value) low prices low temperatures

7 : less than enough Our supply is getting low.

8 : not strong low winds

9 : not favorable : poor I have a low opinion of him.

low

noun

Kids Definition of low (Entry 4 of 5)

1 : a point or level that is the least in degree, size, or amount The temperature hit a low of ten degrees.

2 : a region of reduced barometric pressure

3 : the arrangement of gears in an automobile that gives the slowest speed of travel

low

adverb

lower; lowest

Kids Definition of low (Entry 5 of 5)

: so as to be low fly low sing low

low

adjective

\ ˈlō

lower\ ˈlō(-ə)r

\; lowest\ ˈlō-əst

Medical Definition of low

: having a relatively less complex organization : not greatly differentiated or developed phylogenetically —usually used in the comparative degree of less advanced types of plants and animals the lower vertebrates — compare high sense 1