- lower
- low|er1 [ˈləuə US ˈlouər] adj1.) [only before noun]below something else, especially below something of the same type≠ ↑upper▪ Nina chewed her lower lip anxiously.▪ Ruth went down to the lower deck (=lower level on a ship) .your lower limbs(=your legs)2.) [only before noun]at or near the bottom of something≠ ↑upper▪ the lower slopes of the mountain▪ She suffers with pain in her lower back.3.) smaller in number or amount≠ higher▪ Temperatures will be lower over the weekend.4.) [only before noun]less important than something else of the same type≠ higher▪ the lower levels of managementlower 2lower2 S3 v▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(reduce)¦2¦(move down)¦3 lower your eyes/head4 lower yourself5 lower the tone (of something)▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(REDUCE)¦ [I and T]to reduce something in amount, degree, strength etc, or to become less▪ Do you think we should lower the price?▪ After 20 minutes lower the temperature to 325°.▪ drugs to lower blood pressure▪ Helen lowered her voice (=made it quieter) as they approached.▪ His voice lowered (=became quieter) .2.) ¦(MOVE DOWN)¦ [T]to move something down from higher up≠ ↑raise▪ Very gently, he lowered the dog onto the rug by the fire.▪ The flags were lowered to half-mast.▪ Greg watched as the coffin was lowered.lower yourself▪ He lowered himself carefully down from the top of the wall.3.) lower your eyes/headto look down≠ ↑raise▪ Christina blushed and lowered her eyes.4.) lower yourself [usually in negatives]to behave in a way that makes people respect you less▪ I wouldn't lower myself to speak to her after what she's done.5.) lower the tone (of sth)to make something not as nice as it was▪ They thought an influx of students would lower the tone of the neighborhood.▪ Trust you to lower the tone of the conversation (=include rude jokes etc in what you say) !>lowered adj▪ He leaned forward and spoke in a lowered voice.lower 3low|er3 also lour BrE [ˈlauə US -ər] v [i]literary1.) when the sky or the weather lowers, it becomes dark because there is going to be a storm= ↑darken▪ lowering clouds2.) to look threatening or annoyed= ↑frown▪ The other driver lowered at us as we passed him.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.