lower

      English

      Etymology 1

      From low + -er (“comparative”)

      Pronunciation

      Adjective

      lower

      1. comparative form of low: more low
      2. bottom; more towards the bottom than the middle of an object
      3. (geology, of strata or geological time periods) older
      Antonyms

      Adverb

      lower

      1. comparative form of low: more low

      Verb

      lower (third-person singular simple present lowers, present participle lowering, simple past and past participle lowered)

      1. (transitive) To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down
        lower a bucket into a well
        to lower a sail of a boat
      2. (transitive) to pull down
        to lower a flag
        Lowered softly with a threefold cord of love / Down to a silent grave. Alfred Tennyson.
      3. (transitive) To reduce the height of
        lower a fence or wall
        lower a chimney or turret
      4. (transitive) To depress as to direction
        lower the aim of a gun
      5. (transitive) To make less elevated
        to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes
      6. (transitive) To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of
        lower the temperature
        lower one's vitality
        lower distilled liquors
      7. (transitive) To bring down; to humble
        lower one's pride
      8. (reflexive) (lower oneself) To humble oneself; to do something one considers to be beneath one's dignity.
        I could never lower myself enough to buy second-hand clothes.
      9. (transitive) To reduce (something) in value, amount, etc.
        lower the price of goods
        lower the interest rate
      10. (intransitive) To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease
        The river lowered as rapidly as it rose.
      11. (intransitive) To decrease in value, amount, etc.
      Synonyms
      • (let (something) descend by its own weight, such as a bucket or sail): bring down
      • (reduce the height of, as a fence or chimney): shorten
      • (depress as to direction, as a gun):
      • (make less elevated as to object, as ambitions or hopes): reduce
      • (reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of, as temperature): reduce, turn down
      • (transitive: to humble):
      • (reflexive: to humble oneself): be humble
      • (reduce (something) in value, amount, etc): cut, reduce
      • (intransitive: grow less): die off, drop, fall, fall off, shrink
      • (intransitive: decrease in value): become/get smaller, become/get lower, lessen, reduce
      Translations
      let (something) descend by its own weight, such as a bucket or sail
      pull down
      reduce the height of, as a fence or chimney
      depress as to direction, as a gun
      make less elevated as to object, as ambitions or hopes
      reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of, as temperature
      transitive: to humble
      reflexive: to humble oneself
      reduce (something) in value, amount, etc.
      to fall, to grow less
      intransitive: to decrease in value

      Etymology 2

      Old English lowren, luren; Compare Dutch loeren, Late German luren. German lauern (“to lurk, to be on the watch”), and English leer, lurk.

      Alternative forms

      Pronunciation

      Verb

      lower (third-person singular simple present lowers, present participle lowering, simple past and past participle lowered)

      1. (intransitive) To be dark, gloomy, and threatening, as clouds; to be covered with dark and threatening clouds, as the sky; to show threatening signs of approach, as a tempest.
      2. (intransitive) To frown; to look sullen.
        • (Can we date this quote?) John Dryden
          But sullen discontent sat lowering on her face.
      Related terms
      Translations
      to be dark, gloomy, and threatening, as clouds
      to frown; to look sullen

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      Last modified on 7 June 2013, at 22:04