lower1
/ˈləʊə
/ comparative of low1.
adjective
1Less high in position: the lower levels of the building...
- The proposal for a new building had a more plausible scale and circulation pattern in a somewhat lower structure.
- Resuscitation may have dislodged it and allowed minute food particles to pass into the lower respiratory tract.
Synonyms
bottom, bottommost, under, underneath, further down, beneath, nether
1.1Less high in status or amount: managers lower down the hierarchy lower costs will encourage people to buy
Synonyms
subordinate, inferior, lesser, junior, minor, secondary, lower-level, lower-grade, subsidiary, ancillary, second-fiddle, subservient;
second-class, second-rate
cheaper, reduced, decreased, lessened, curtailed, pruned, cut, slashed
1.2(Of an animal or plant) showing relatively primitive or simple characteristics.
1.3 (often Lower) Geology & Archaeology Denoting an older (and hence usually deeper) part of a stratigraphic division or archaeological deposit or the period in which it was formed or deposited: Lower Cretaceous Lower Palaeolithic
1.4 [in place names] Situated to the south: the union of Upper and Lower Egypt
adverb
In or into a lower position: the sun sank lower
Derivatives
lowermost
/ adjective ...- Also, there is a need to provide a positive signal when the user steps on the lowermost rung of the ladder to prevent the possible injury described above.
- The other method is to apply coats of special waterproof cement on the inside surfaces of the walls and lowermost floor, using pressure adhesion.
Rhymes
lower2
/ˈləʊə/verb [with object]
1Move (someone or something) in a downward direction: he watched the coffin being lowered into the ground...
- Upon the third ring, my other hand released his and I lowered my fist, moving away from the elder man and back to my laptop.
- He lowered his hand, moving his focus to the paints and pencils and brushes that had been forgotten for so long.
- He stood by as baskets of mutton and fish were lowered in together like coffins in a communal grave.
Synonyms
move down, let down, take down, haul down, drop, let fall, let sink
1.1Make or become less in amount, intensity, or degree: [with object]: traffic speeds must be lowered she lowered her voice to a whisper [no object]: temperatures lowered...
- For instance, when Penn State students take off for the holidays, the temperatures in the buildings can be lowered to 55 degrees.
- The problem isn't merely that standards must be lowered in order for the weaker students to pass.
- Costs, already greatly reduced, must be lowered even further if the airline is to compete in an increasingly cut-throat word.
Synonyms
soften, modulate, quieten, hush, tone down, muffle, turn down, mute
reduce, decrease, lessen, bring down, diminish, curtail, prune, pare (down), ease up on, cause to fall, slim down, mark down, cut, slash, axe
subside, fall (off), recede, ebb, wane;
abate, die down, let up, moderate, diminish, lessen
1.2 (lower oneself) Behave in a way that is perceived as unworthy or debased: he must really love her to be able to lower himself to this...
- He lowers himself and the book by covering these topics.
- It makes perfect sense for supermodels to love me, but there's really no reason for them to be lowering themselves to fools like Pete.
- I think my greatest disappointment was really the commissioners' behavior with regard to lowering themselves to partisan politics.
Synonyms
degrade, debase, demean, abase, humble, humiliate, downgrade, discredit, shame, dishonour, disgrace;
belittle, cheapen, devalue;
(lower oneself) condescend, deign, stoop, sink, descend, vouchsafe
Phrases
lower the boom on
lower the tone
lower3
/ˈləʊə/verb & noun
Variant spelling of lour.