LOW

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Low mean? 

• LOW (noun)
  The noun LOW has 4 senses:

1. an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation

2. British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)

3. a low level or position or degree

4. the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

  Familiarity information: LOW used as a noun is uncommon.

• LOW (adjective)
  The adjective LOW has 10 senses:

1. less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

2. literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension

3. very low in volume

4. unrefined in character

5. used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency

6. of the most contemptible kind

7. low or inferior in station or quality

8. no longer sufficient

9. subdued or brought low in condition or status

10. filled with melancholy and despondency

  Familiarity information: LOW used as an adjective is familiar.

• LOW (verb)
  The verb LOW has 1 sense:

1. make a low noise, characteristic of bovines

  Familiarity information: LOW used as a verb is very rare.

• LOW (adverb)
  The adverb LOW has 1 sense:

1. in a low position; near the ground

  Familiarity information: LOW used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LOW (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

depression; low

Context example:

a low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow

Hypernyms ("low" is a kind of...):

air mass (a large body of air with uniform characteristics horizontally)

Holonyms ("low" is a part of...):

cyclone ((meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern)

Sense 2

Meaning:

British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

David Low; Low; Sir David Alexander Cecil Low; Sir David Low

Instance hypernyms:

cartoonist (a person who draws cartoons)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A low level or position or degree

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the stock market fell to a new low

Hypernyms ("low" is a kind of...):

degree; grade; level (a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality)

Antonym:

high (a lofty level or position or degree)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

first; first gear; low; low gear

Hypernyms ("low" is a kind of...):

gear; gear mechanism (a mechanism for transmitting motion for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle))

Holonyms ("low" is a part of...):

auto; automobile; car; machine; motorcar (a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine)

• LOW (adjective)

Declension: comparative and superlative

Sense 1

Meaning:

Less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

Context example:

the reservoir is low

Similar:

debased; degraded; devalued (lowered in value)

depressed; down (lower than previously)

low-level (not intense)

reduced; rock-bottom (well below normal (especially in price))

Also:

inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)

Attribute:

degree; grade; level (a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality)

Antonym:

high (greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount)

Derivation:

lowness (a low or small degree of any quality (amount or force or temperature etc.))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension

Context example:

a low bow

Similar:

deep (with head or back bent low)

flat-growing; ground-hugging; low-growing (of plants that grow relatively low to the ground)

low-altitude; low-level (occurring at a relatively low altitude)

low-lying (having a small elevation above the ground or horizon or sea level)

low-set; lowset (lower than average)

nether; under (located below or beneath something else)

squat; underslung (having a low center of gravity; built low to the ground)

Also:

down (being or moving lower in position or less in some value)

little; short (low in stature; not tall)

inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)

Attribute:

height; tallness (the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top)

Antonym:

high ((literal meaning) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like 'knee-high'))

Derivation:

lowness (the quality of being low; lacking height)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Very low in volume

Synonyms:

low; low-toned

Context example:

the low-toned murmur of the surf

Similar:

soft ((of sound) relatively low in volume)

Derivation:

lowness (a low or small degree of any quality (amount or force or temperature etc.))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Unrefined in character

Context example:

low comedy

Similar:

unrefined ((used of persons and their behavior) not refined; uncouth)

Derivation:

lowness (a position of inferior status; low in station or rank or fortune or estimation)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency

Synonyms:

low; low-pitched

Similar:

alto; contralto (of or being the lowest female voice)

throaty (sounding as if pronounced low in the throat)

contrabass; double-bass (pitched an octave below normal bass instrumental or vocal range)

bass; deep (having or denoting a low vocal or instrumental range)

baritone (lower in range than tenor and higher than bass)

Attribute:

pitch (the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration)

Antonym:

high (used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency)

Derivation:

lowness (a low or small degree of any quality (amount or force or temperature etc.))

Sense 6

Meaning:

Of the most contemptible kind

Synonyms:

abject; low; low-down; miserable; scummy; scurvy

Context example:

a scurvy trick

Similar:

contemptible (deserving of contempt or scorn)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Low or inferior in station or quality

Synonyms:

humble; low; lowly; modest; small

Context example:

small beginnings

Similar:

inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)

Derivation:

lowness (a position of inferior status; low in station or rank or fortune or estimation)

Sense 8

Meaning:

No longer sufficient

Synonyms:

depleted; low

Context example:

our funds are depleted

Similar:

deficient; insufficient (of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement)

Derivation:

lowness (a low or small degree of any quality (amount or force or temperature etc.))

Sense 9

Meaning:

Subdued or brought low in condition or status

Synonyms:

broken; crushed; humbled; humiliated; low

Context example:

his broken spirit

Similar:

humble (marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful)

Derivation:

lowness (a feeling of low spirits)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Filled with melancholy and despondency

Synonyms:

blue; depressed; dispirited; down; down in the mouth; downcast; downhearted; gloomy; grim; low; low-spirited

Context example:

feeling discouraged and downhearted

Similar:

dejected (affected or marked by low spirits)

Derivation:

lowness (a feeling of low spirits)

• LOW (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a low noise, characteristic of bovines

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

low; moo

Hypernyms (to "low" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

• LOW (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a low position; near the ground

Context example:

the branches hung low

 Context examples 

I descended to the lower deck.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He did not, however, betray himself; he nodded slightly and said: "Go on," in a low voice.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

As the fall of the year came on, the moose appeared in greater abundance, moving slowly down to meet the winter in the lower and less rigorous valleys.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the sum which I have asked.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The house was separated from the street by a low wall and railing, the whole not more than five feet high.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They have been up all night—see, the oil is low in the lamp, the first morning light is coming in at the window.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“Very low,” said Mr. Micawber, shaking his head; “reaction. Ah, this has been a dreadful day! We stand alone now—everything is gone from us!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was something between a snore and a growl, low, deep, and exceedingly menacing.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"It's a very good one for you," retorted Jo in a low voice.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)