to contract the brow, as in displeasure or deep thought; scowl.
to look displeased; have an angry look.
to view with disapproval; look disapprovingly (usually followed by on or upon): to frown upon a scheme.
verb (used with object)
to express by a frown: to frown one's displeasure.
to force or shame with a disapproving frown: to frown someone into silence.
noun
a frowning look; scowl.
any expression or show of disapproval: a tax bill that received Congressional frowns.
Origin of frown
1350–1400; Middle English frounen<Old French froignier, derivative of froigne surly expression, probably <Gaulish *frognā; compare Welsh ffroen,Old Breton fron nostril, Old Irish srón nose <Celtic *srognā or *sroknā
In the 1980s, Jean and Alastair Carruthers, a Canadian ophthalmologist and dermatologist, accidentally discovered the toxin’s anti-aging properties when they noticed patients receiving injections for facial spasm were also losing their frown lines.
Can you get too much Botox?|By Matthew J. Lin/The Conversation|October 1, 2020|Popular Science
“Lilly… Ledbetter…” we whisper to ourselves as we frown at men.
Getting to Know the ‘Beyoncé Voter’|Kelly Williams Brown|July 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Early the next morning, “Frown,” Jai Johany Johnson, is living up to his nickname in the hotel restaurant.
Stacks: Hitting the Note with the Allman Brothers Band|Grover Lewis|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A smile, a contented smirk, even a frown—something—but there was nothing.
Can a Straight Man Love Sex and the City?|Michael Patrick King|May 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST
"Still you leave me in the dark," Mahommed cried, with a frown.
The Prince of India, Volume I|Lew. Wallace
A frown began to gather on the vintner's brow and a sweat in his palm.
The Goose Girl|Harold MacGrath
She was the picture of luxurious comfort, except for the frown upon her pretty brow.
The Cricket|Marjorie Cooke
What see you, Which thus repairs the arch of the fair brow, A frown was like to spoil?
The Hunchback|James Sheridan Knowles
Immediately he saw the frown of the artist's discontent with her work clouding her face.
The Hills of Desire|Richard Aumerle Maher
British Dictionary definitions for frown
frown
/ (fraʊn) /
verb
(intr)to draw the brows together and wrinkle the forehead, esp in worry, anger, or concentration
(intr; foll by on or upon)to have a dislike (of); look disapprovingly (upon)the club frowned upon political activity by its members
(tr)to express (worry, etc) by frowning
(tr often foll by down) to force, silence, etc, by a frowning look
noun
the act of frowning
a show of dislike or displeasure
Derived forms of frown
frowner, nounfrowningly, adverb
Word Origin for frown
C14: from Old French froigner, of Celtic origin; compare Welsh ffroen nostril, Middle Breton froan