low
IPA: ɫˈoʊ
noun
- A low point or position, literally (as, a depth) or or figuratively (as, a nadir, a time when things are at their worst, least, minimum, etc).
- The minimum atmospheric temperature recorded at a particular location, especially during one 24-hour period.
- A period of depression; a depressed mood or situation.
- (meteorology, informal) An area of low pressure; a depression.
- The lowest-speed gearing of a power-transmission system, especially of an automotive vehicle.
- (card games) The lowest trump, usually the deuce; the lowest trump dealt or drawn.
- (slang, usually accompanied by "the") A cheap, cost-efficient, or advantageous price.
- (countable, UK, Scotland, dialect) A flame; fire; blaze.
- (archaic or obsolete) Barrow, mound, tumulus.
- (Scottish dialectal, archaic) A hill.
- A surname.
- (rail transport) The station code of Lo Wu in Hong Kong.
- (military) Acronym of launch on warning.
verb
- (obsolete, transitive) To lower; to make low.
- (intransitive) To moo.
- (UK, Scotland, dialect) To burn; to blaze.
- Alternative form of 'low [(US, UK, dialectal or colloquial) To allow; to acknowledge or admit.]
adjective
- Situated close to, or even below, the ground or another normal reference plane; not high or lofty.
- Pertaining to (or, especially of a language: spoken in) in an area which is at a lesser elevation, closer to sea level (especially near the sea), than other regions.
- (baseball, of a ball) Below the batter's knees.
- Of less than normal height or upward extent or growth, or of greater than normal depth or recession; below the average or normal level from which elevation is measured.
- Low-cut.
- Not high in status, esteem, or rank, dignity, or quality. (Compare vulgar.)
- Humble, meek, not haughty.
- Disparaging; assigning little value or excellence.
- Being a nadir, a bottom.
- Depressed in mood, dejected, sad.
- Lacking health or vitality, strength or vivacity; feeble; weak.
- Dead. (Compare lay low.)
- Small, not high (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc).
- Having a small or comparatively smaller concentration of (a substance, which is often but not always linked by "in" when predicative).
- Depleted, or nearing deletion; lacking in supply.
- (especially in biology) Simple in complexity or development.
- (chiefly in several set phrases) Favoring simplicity (see e.g. low church, Low Tory).
- (in several set phrases) Being near the equator.
- (acoustics) Grave in pitch, due to being produced by relatively slow vibrations (wave oscillations); flat.
- Quiet; soft; not loud.
- (phonetics) Made with a relatively large opening between the tongue and the palate; made with (part of) the tongue positioned low in the mouth, relative to the palate.
- (card games) Lesser in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc.
- (now rare) Not rich or seasoned; offering the minimum of nutritional requirements; plain, simple.
- (of an automobile, gear, etc) Designed for a slow (or the slowest) speed.
adverb
- Close to the ground.
- Of a pitch, at a lower frequency.
- With a low voice or sound; not loudly; gently.
- Under the usual price; at a moderate price; cheaply.
- In a low mean condition; humbly; meanly.
- In a time approaching our own.
- (astronomy) In a path near the equator, so that the declination is small, or near the horizon, so that the altitude is small; said of the heavenly bodies with reference to the diurnal revolution.
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Examples of "low" in Sentences
- The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the meadow
- The water level in the river was running low after a long dry spell
- He spoke in a low, hushed voice as if afraid of being overheard
- The temperature had dropped so low that she could see her breath in the frosty air
- Her spirits were at an all-time low after receiving the bad news
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