low
1[ loh ]
/ loÊ /
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adjective, low·er, low·est.
adverb, low·er, low·est.
noun
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known asâŠ
Idioms about low
- to overpower or kill; defeat: to lay one's attackers low.
- to knock down; make prostrate.
- Informal. to lie low.
- to conceal oneself: He had to lie low for a while.
- to do nothing until the right opportunity develops; bide one's time: Until the dispute is settled, you would do best to lie low.
lay low,
lie low,
Origin of low
1First recorded in 1125â75; Middle English lou(e), loh(e) (adjective and noun), earlier lÄh, from Old Norse lÄgr (adjective) âlow, low downâ; cognate with Old Frisian lÄge, lÄch, Dutch laag, Old High German laege; akin to lie2
synonym study for low
27. See mean2.
OTHER WORDS FROM low
lowish, adjectivelowness, nouno·ver·low·ness, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH low
low , lowlyOther definitions for low (2 of 4)
low2
[ loh ]
/ loÊ /
verb (used without object), lowed, low·ing.
to utter the deep, low sound characteristic of cattle; moo.
verb (used with object), lowed, low·ing.
to utter by or as by lowing.
noun
the act or the sound of lowing: the low of a distant herd.
Origin of low
2First recorded before 1000; Middle English lowen, Old English hlĆwan; cognate with Dutch loeien, Old High German hluoen, Old Saxon hlĆian; akin to Old Norse HlĆi a proper name (literally, âbellower, shouterâ), Latin clÄmÄre âto call outâ
Other definitions for low (3 of 4)
low3
or lowe
[ loh ]
/ loÊ /
verb (used without object), lowed, low·ing.British Dialect.
to burn; blaze.
(of a person) to feel strong emotions; glow with excitement.
Origin of low
3First recorded in 1300â50; Middle English, from Old Norse loga âto flame,â log âa flame,â akin to German lohen (verb), Lohe (noun), Latin lĆ«cÄre (verb), lĆ«x (noun) âlightâ; see also light1
Other definitions for low (4 of 4)
Low
[ loh ]
/ loÊ /
noun
David, 1891â1963, English political cartoonist, born in New Zealand.
Juliette, 1860â1927, founder of Girl Scouts in the U.S.
Seth, 1850â1916, U.S. political reformer, educator, and politician.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use low in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for low (1 of 3)
low1
/ (lÉÊ) /
adjective
adverb
noun
Derived forms of low
lowness, nounWord Origin for low
C12 lÄh, from Old Norse lÄgr; related to Old Frisian lÄch low, Dutch laag
British Dictionary definitions for low (2 of 3)
low2
/ (lÉÊ) /
noun Also: lowing
the sound uttered by cattle; moo
verb
to make or express by a low or moo
Word Origin for low
Old English hlĆwan; related to Dutch loeien, Old Saxon hlĆian
British Dictionary definitions for low (3 of 3)
Low
/ (lÉÊ) /
noun
Sir David. 1891â1963, British political cartoonist, born in New Zealand: created Colonel BlimpSee blimp 2
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Other Idioms and Phrases with low
low
The American HeritageÂź Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.