/ 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.