LOW


Meaning of LOW in English

/ ləʊ; NAmE loʊ/ adjective , adverb , noun , verb

■ adjective

( lower , low·est )

NOT HIGH / TALL

1.

not high or tall; not far above the ground :

a low wall / building / table

a low range of hills

low clouds

flying at low altitude

The sun was low in the sky.

OPP high

NEAR BOTTOM

2.

at or near the bottom of sth :

low back pain

the lower slopes of the mountain

temperatures in the low 20s (= no higher than 21–23°)

OPP high

CLOTHING

3.

not high at the neck :

a dress with a low neckline

—see also low-cut

LEVEL / VALUE

4.

(also low - ) (often in compounds) below the usual or average amount, level or value :

low prices

low-income families

a low-cost airline

the lowest temperature ever recorded

a low level of unemployment

Yogurt is usually very low in fat.

low-fat yogurt

low-tar cigarettes

OPP high

5.

having a reduced amount or not enough of sth :

The reservoir was low after the long drought.

Our supplies are running low (= we only have a little left) .

They were low on fuel.

SOUND

6.

not high; not loud :

The cello is lower than the violin.

They were speaking in low voices.

OPP high

STANDARD

7.

below the usual or expected standard :

students with low marks / grades in their exams

a low standard of living

OPP high

STATUS

8.

below other people or things in importance or status :

low forms of life (= creatures with a very simple structure)

jobs with low status

Training was given a very low priority.

the lower classes of society

OPP high

DEPRESSED

9.

weak or depressed; with very little energy

SYN down :

I'm feeling really low.

They were in low spirits.

OPINION

10.

[ usually before noun ] not very good

SYN poor :

She has a very low opinion of her own abilities.

OPP high

NOT HONEST

11.

( of a person ) not honest

SYN disreputable :

He mixes with some pretty low types.

LIGHT

12.

not bright

SYN dim :

The lights were low and romance was in the air.

IN VEHICLE

13.

if a vehicle is in low gear , it travels at a slower speed in relation to the speed of the engine

PHONETICS

14.

( phonetics ) = open

IDIOMS

- at a low ebb

- be brought low

- lay sb low

- the lowest of the low

—more at profile noun

■ adverb

( lower , low·est )

NOT HIGH

1.

in or into a low position, not far above the ground :

to crouch / bend low

a plane flying low over the town

low-flying aircraft

The sun sank lower towards the horizon.

NEAR BOTTOM

2.

in or into a position near the bottom of sth :

a window set low in the wall

The candles were burning low.

LEVEL

3.

(especially in compounds) at a level below what is usual or expected :

low-priced goods

a low-powered PC

a very low-scoring game

SOUND

4.

not high; not loudly :

He's singing an octave lower than the rest of us.

Can you turn the music lower—you'll wake the baby.

IDIOMS

see high adverb , lie verb , sink verb , stoop verb

■ noun

LEVEL / VALUE

1.

a low level or point; a low figure :

The yen has fallen to an all-time low against the dollar.

The temperature reached a record low in London last night.

The government's popularity has hit a new low.

DIFFICULT TIME

2.

a very difficult time in sb's life or career :

The break-up of her marriage marked an all-time low in her life.

WEATHER

3.

an area of low pressure in the atmosphere :

Another low is moving in from the Atlantic.

OPP high

■ verb

[ v ] ( literary ) when a cow lows , it makes a deep sound

SYN moo

••

WORD ORIGIN

adjective and noun adverb Middle English : from Old Norse lágr , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch laag , also to lie (I).

verb Old English hlōwan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch loeien , from an Indo-European root shared by Latin clamare to shout.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.