brow

[brou]

noun

1. Anatomy.,  the ridge over the eye.

2. the hair growing on that ridge; eyebrow.

3. the forehead.

   He wore his hat low over his brow.

4. a person's countenance or mien.

5. the edge of a steep place.

   She looked down over the brow of the hill.

6. gangplank.

brow

/ braʊ /

noun

1. the part of the face from the eyes to the hairline; forehead

2. short for eyebrow

3. the expression of the face; countenance

   a troubled brow

4. the top of a mine shaft; pithead

5. the jutting top of a hill, etc

6. dialect,  a steep slope on a road

Word History and Origins

Origin of brow¹

before 1000; Middle English browe, Old English brū; akin to Old Norse brūn, Sanskrit bhrūs

Word History and Origins

Origin of brow¹

Old English brū ; related to Old Norse brūn eyebrow, Lithuanian bruvis , Greek ophrus , Sanskrit bhrūs

Idioms and Phrases

see by the sweat of one's brow; cause raised eyebrows.

Example Sentences

You can sense the relief as sweaty security chiefs of museums around the world mop their brows: “There but for the grace of God. Merci, Jesus, for the Louvre!”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Sweatband cradling his brow and lion inked on his back, the 31-year-old has boldly written his own legacy.

Read more on BBC

“All this waiting, and for what?” he said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Frowning brows, narrowing eyes and pursed lips often follow missed shots.

Read more on BBC

“Trying to work out why it should be released was actually quite an obstacle,” he says with a furrowed brow, but still bearing a smile.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eyebrow