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Webster 1913 Edition


Lower

Low′er

,
Adj.
Com
par.
of
Low
,
Adj.

Low′er

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Lowered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Lowering
.]
[From
Low
,
Adj.
]
1.
To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down;
as, to
lower
a bucket into a well; to lower a sail or a boat
; sometimes, to pull down;
as, to
lower
a flag
.
Lowered
softly with a threefold cord of love
Down to a silent grave.
Tennyson.
2.
To reduce the height of;
as, to
lower
a fence or wall; to
lower
a chimney or turret.
3.
To depress as to direction;
as, to
lower
the aim of a gun
; to make less elevated as to object;
as, to
lower
one’s ambition, aspirations, or hopes
.
4.
To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of;
as, to
lower
the temperature of anything; to
lower
one's vitality; to
lower
distilled liquors.
5.
To bring down; to humble;
as, to
lower
one's pride
.
6.
To reduce in value, amount, etc.;
as, to
lower
the price of goods, the rate of interest, etc.

Low′er

,
Verb.
I.
To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease;
as, the river
lowered
as rapidly as it rose
.

Low′er

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Lowered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Lowering
.]
[OE.
lowren
,
luren
; cf. D.
loeren
, LG.
luren
. G.
lauern
to lurk, to be on the watch, and E.
leer
,
lurk
.]
1.
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.
All the clouds that
lowered
upon our house.
Shakespeare
2.
To frown; to look sullen.
But sullen discontent sat
lowering
on her face.
Dryden.

Low′er

,
Noun.
[Obs.]
1.
Cloudiness; gloominess.
2.
A frowning; sullenness.

Webster 1828 Edition


Lower

LOWER

,
Verb.
T.
[from low.]
1.
To cause to descend; to let down; to take or bring down; as, to lower the main-sail of a sloop.
2.
To suffer to sink downwards.
3.
To bring down; to reduce or humble; as, to lower the pride of man.
4.
To lessen; to diminish; to reduce, as value or amount; as, to lower the price or value of goods, or the rate of interest.

LOWER

,
Verb.
I.
To fall; to sink; to grow less.

Definition 2024


lower

lower

English

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈləʊə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈloʊɚ/
  • Rhymes: -əʊə(r)
  • Rhymes: -aʊ.ə(ɹ)

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

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈlaʊə/, /ˈlaʊ.ə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈlaʊɚ/, /ˈlaʊ.ɚ/

Verb

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

  1. Alternative spelling of lour.
Related terms

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: corner · spite · built · #901: lower · lead · wouldn't · success

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