Library / English Dictionary

LOWER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The lower of two berths

Synonyms:

lower; lower berth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("lower" is a kind of...):

berth; built in bed; bunk (a bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers)

Derivation:

lower (cause to drop or sink)

lower (move something or somebody to a lower position)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval

Synonyms:

frown; glower; lour; lower

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

grimace; make a face; pull a face (contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lower"):

scowl (frown with displeasure)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make lower or quieter

Example:

turn down the volume of a radio

Synonyms:

lour; lower; turn down

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

lowering (the act of causing to become less)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Set lower

Example:

lower expectations

Synonyms:

lour; lower

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

devalue (lower the value or quality of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lower"):

derate (lower the rated electrical capability of electrical apparatus)

subdue; subordinate (make subordinate, dependent, or subservient)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cause to drop or sink

Example:

The lack of rain had depressed the water level in the reservoir

Synonyms:

depress; lower

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

lower (the lower of two berths)

lowering (the act of causing to become less)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Move something or somebody to a lower position

Example:

take down the vase from the shelf

Synonyms:

bring down; get down; let down; lower; take down

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Cause:

come down; descend; fall; go down (move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lower"):

reef (lower and bring partially inboard)

depress (lower (prices or markets))

dip (lower briefly)

incline (lower or bend (the head or upper body), as in a nod or bow)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

They lower the bags on the table

Antonym:

raise (raise from a lower to a higher position)

Derivation:

lower (the lower of two berths)

lowering (the act of causing something to move to a lower level)

Credits

 Context examples: 

A reduction in the strength of the lower limb muscles.

(Muscle Weakness Lower Limb, NCI Thesaurus)

There had been, so far as we could follow their signs, a tunnel by which the place could be approached, the lower exit of which we had seen from below.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I walked along the path towards the house, glancing at the windows, and fearing at every step to see Mr. Murdstone or Miss Murdstone lowering out of one of them.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The broadest part of the lower portion of the mediastinum.

(Middle Mediastinum, NCI Thesaurus)

Abnormal malignant growth of cells in the urethra (lower urinary tract)that has spread either into adjacent tissue or to a distant site.

(Metastatic Neoplasm of the Urethra, NCI Thesaurus)

A drug that is used to lower blood pressure.

(ACE inhibitor, NCI Dictionary)

Abiraterone acetate lowers the amount of androgens (male hormones), such as testosterone, made by the body.

(Abiraterone acetate, NCI Dictionary)

And one thing I might depend upon, that they would certainly tell me the truth, for lying was a talent of no use in the lower world.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

"What's that?" Skiff Miller demanded, his brows lowering and an obstinate flush of blood reddening his forehead.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Sometimes a full moon in the sixth house lowers your resistance and brings on a cold if you’ve been under a strain with too much to do and too little time.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)