prep. & adv.
prep. 1 lower in position (vertically, down a slope or stream, etc.) than. 2 beneath the surface of; at or to a greater depth than (head below water; below 500 feet). 3 lower or less than in amount or degree (below freezing-point; temperature is 20 below). 4 lower in rank, position, or importance than. 5 unworthy of.
adv. 1 at or to a lower point or level. 2 a downstairs (lives below). b downstream. 3 (of a text reference) further forward on a page or in a book (as noted below). 4 on the lower side (looks similar above and below). 5 rhet. on earth; in hell. below stairs in the basement of a house esp. as the part occupied by servants.
[ BE- + LOW(1) ]