- low
- 1
adjective
1 NOT HIGHa) having a top that is not far above the ground: He jumped over the low wall. | a long low buildingb) at a point that is not far above the ground: low clouds | Put the books on the lowest shelf.c) below the usual height: a low bridge | The river is low for this time of year.2 SMALL AMOUNTa) small, or smaller than usual, in amount, value etc: The price of oil is at its lowest for 10 years. | families existing on very low incomes | low-cost/low-budget etc: There's a desperate need for good low-cost housing.b) low in having less than the usual amount of a substance or chemical: food that is low in calories | low-fat/low-salt etc: I only smoke low-tar cigarettes. | low-alcohol beerc) in the low 20s/50s etc a number, temperature etc in the low 20s etc is around 21, 22, or 23, but no higher: Daytime temperature will be in the low 30s3 BELOW USUAL LEVEL small, or smaller than usual, in level or degree: In this sort of investment, the risks are fairly low. | Morale has been low since the latest round of job-cuts. | low-risk/low-priority etc: a low-security prison4 STANDARDS/QUALITY below an acceptable or usual level or quality: Their safety standards seem to be pretty low. | Cost-cutting has led to a lower quality of service.5 SUPPLY a supply of something that is low is nearly finished: be/get/run low (on): We're running low on coffee. | Stocks are getting low.6 SOUND a low voice, sound etc is quiet or deep: I heard a low moaning noise. | The volume is too low - turn it up. | a low whisper7 LIGHT a light that is low is not bright: low romantic lighting in a restaurant8 HEAT if you cook something on a low heat or in a low oven, you cook it using only a small amount of heat9 BATTERY a battery that is low does not have much power left in it10 CLOTHES a low dress, blouse etc does not cover your neck and the top of your chest11 UNHAPPY (not before noun) unhappy and without much hope for the future: She's still feeling pretty low about failing that exam. | in low spirits: Terry seems to be in rather low spirits today.12 DISHONEST old-fashioned or humorous behaviour that is low is not fair or honest: a low trick13 of low birth/breeding old-fashioned not from a high social class-see also: be at a low ebb ebb 1 (2) - lowness noun (U) 2 adverb1 in or to a low position or level: He bent low over the engine. | Turn the heating down low.2 near the ground: Watch out for low-flying aircraft.3 if you play or sing musical notes low, you play or sing them with quiet deep notes: Sing those bars an octave lower.4 search/look high and low informal to look everywhere in order to find something5 lie lowa) to hide from people who are trying to catch youb) to wait and try not to be noticed by anyone: Just lie low for a while.6 lay sb low to knock someone down onto the ground or to make someone feel very weak: laid low by flu7 be brought low old-fashioned to become much less rich or important-see also: lowly 3 noun1 (C) a low price or level: fall to a new low/hit a new low (=be worth less than ever before): The pound has fallen to a new low against the dollar. | all-time low (=much lower or worse than ever before): Profits hit an all-time low this month.2 (C) a bad situation in someone's personal life: all-time low (=a worse situation than ever before): 1963 marked an all-time low in his family life. | highs and lows (=good times and bad times): the highs and lows in their marriage3 (countable usually singular)a) an area of low pressure in the air: a low moving in over the Pacificb) a low temperature: The overnight low will be 8ºC.4 the lowest of the lowa) informal someone you think is completely unfair, cruel, immoral etc: Property barons are among the lowest of the low.b) often humorous someone from a low social class4 verb (I) especially literary if cattle low, they make a deep sound
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.