Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Brow

Brow

(brou)
,
Noun.
[OE.
browe
,
bruwe
, AS.
brū
; akin to AS.
brǣw
,
breáw
, eyelid, OFries.
brē
, D.
braauw
, Icel.
brā
,
brūn
, OHG.
prāwa
, G.
braue
, OSlav.
brŭvĭ
, Russ.
brove
, Ir.
brai
, Ir. & Gael.
abhra
, Armor.
abrant
, Gr.
ὀφρύς
, Skr.
bhrū
. Cf.
Bray
a bank,
Bridge
.]
1.
The prominent ridge over the eye, with the hair that covers it, forming an arch above the orbit.
And his arched
brow
, pulled o’er his eyes,
With solemn proof proclaims him wise.
Churchill.
2.
The hair that covers the brow (ridge over the eyes); the eyebrow.
'T is not your inky
brows
, your brack silk hair.
Shakespeare
3.
The forehead;
as, a feverish
brow
.
Beads of sweat have stood upon thy
brow
.
Shakespeare
4.
The general air of the countenance.
To whom thus Satan with contemptuous
brow
.
Milton.
He told them with a masterly
brow
.
Milton.
5.
The edge or projecting upper part of a steep place;
as, the
brow
of a precipice; the
brow
of a hill
.
To bend the brow
,
To knit the brows
,
to frown; to scowl.

Brow

,
Verb.
T.
To bound to limit; to be at, or form, the edge of.
[R.]
Tending my flocks hard by i' the hilly crofts
That
brow
this bottom glade.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Brow

BROW

,
Noun.
[L. palpebra.. It is probably contracted from brg,and signifies an edge,border or projection.]
1.
The prominent ridge over the eye, forming an arch above the orbit. The skin of this arch or ridge is moved by muscles, which contract it in a frown and elevate it in joy or surprise. Hence, to know the brows, is to frown.
2.
The hair that covers the brow forming an arch, called the eye brow.
3.
The forehead. Hence, the general air of the countenance.
4.
The edge of a steep place, as the brink of a river or precipice; as the brow of a hill.
5.
A fringe of coppice, adjoining to the hedge of a field.

BROW

,
Verb.
T.
To bound; to limit; to form the edge or border of.

Definition 2024


brow

brow

English

Noun

brow (plural brows)

  1. The ridge over the eyes; the eyebrow.
    • Shakespeare
      'Tis not your inky brows, your black silk hair.
    • Churchill
      And his arched brow, pulled o'er his eyes, / With solemn proof proclaims him wise.
  2. The first tine of an antler's beam.
  3. The forehead.
    • Shakespeare
      Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow.
    • 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
      Mr. Banks’ panama hat was in one hand, while the other drew a handkerchief across his perspiring brow.
  4. The projecting upper edge of a steep place such as a hill.
    the brow of a precipice
  5. (nautical) The gangway from ship to shore when a ship is lying alongside a quay.
  6. (nautical) The hinged part of a landing craft or ferry which is lowered to form a landing platform; a ramp.

Translations

Derived terms

Synonyms

Verb

brow (third-person singular simple present brows, present participle browing, simple past and past participle browed)

  1. To bound or limit; to be at, or form, the edge of.
    • Milton
      Tending my flocks hard by i' the hilly crofts / That brow this bottom glade.