LOW
| Pronunciation (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 11 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. low in spirits
11. being the gear producing the lowest drive speed
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)
Meaning:
An air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Synonyms:
low; low pressure; depression
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)
Meaning:
British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
David Low; Sir David Low; Sir David Alexander Cecil Low; Low
Instance hypernyms:
cartoonist (a person who draws cartoons)
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)
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 gear; low gear; low; first
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)
Meaning:
Less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
Context examples:
low prices / the reservoir is low
Similar:
reduced; rock-bottom (well below normal (especially in price))
low-level (not intense)
depressed; down (lower than previously)
debased; degraded; devalued (lowered in value)
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)
Meaning:
Literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension
Context examples:
low ceilings / low clouds / low hills / the sun is low / low furniture / a low bow
Similar:
squat; underslung (having a low center of gravity; built low to the ground)
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)
Also:
down (being or moving lower in position or less in some value)
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'))
Meaning:
Very low in volume
Synonyms:
low-toned; low
Context examples:
a low murmur / the low-toned murmur of the surf
Similar:
soft ((of sound) relatively low in volume)
Meaning:
Unrefined in character
Context example:
low comedy
Similar:
unrefined ((used of persons and their behavior) not refined; uncouth)
Meaning:
Used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency
Synonyms:
low-pitched; low
Similar:
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)
alto; contralto (of or being the lowest female voice)
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)
Meaning:
Of the most contemptible kind
Synonyms:
scurvy; scummy; low-down; abject; miserable; low
Context examples:
abject cowardice / a low stunt to pull / a low-down sneak / his miserable treatment of his family / You miserable skunk! / a scummy rabble / a scurvy trick
Similar:
contemptible (deserving of contempt or scorn)
Meaning:
Low or inferior in station or quality
Synonyms:
lowly; humble; small; modest; low
Context examples:
a humble cottage / a lowly parish priest / a modest man of the people / small beginnings
Similar:
inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)
Meaning:
No longer sufficient
Synonyms:
depleted; low
Context examples:
supplies are low / our funds are depleted
Similar:
deficient; insufficient (of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement)
Meaning:
Subdued or brought low in condition or status
Synonyms:
humiliated; humbled; crushed; broken; low
Context examples:
brought low / a broken man / his broken spirit
Similar:
humble (marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful)
Meaning:
Low in spirits
Synonyms:
low-spirited; downhearted; down in the mouth; dispirited; downcast; depressed; blue; down; low
Context examples:
lonely and blue in a strange city / depressed by the loss of his job / a dispirited and resigned expression on her face / downcast after his defeat / feeling discouraged and downhearted
Similar:
dejected (affected or marked by low spirits)
Meaning:
Being the gear producing the lowest drive speed
Synonyms:
first; low
Context example:
use first gear on steep hills
Similar:
forward (of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle)
• LOW (verb)
Meaning:
Make a low noise, characteristic of bovines
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
moo; low
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)
Meaning:
In a low position; near the ground
Context example:
the branches hung low
