depression
n
1 the act of depressing or state of being depressed
2 a depressed or sunken place or area
3 a mental disorder characterized by extreme gloom, feelings of inadequacy, and inability to concentrate
4 (Pathol) an abnormal lowering of the rate of any physiological activity or function, such as respiration
5 an economic condition characterized by substantial and protracted unemployment, low output and investment, etc.; slump
6 (Also called)
cyclone, low (Meteorol) a body of moving air below normal atmospheric pressure, which often brings rain
7 (esp. in surveying and astronomy) the angular distance of an object, celestial body, etc., below the horizontal plane through the point of observation Compare →
elevation →
11
extremely low frequency
n a radio frequency or radio-frequency band below 3 kilohertz, (Abbrev.)
ELF
low [1]
adj
1 having a relatively small distance from base to top; not tall or high
a low hill, a low building
a situated at a relatively short distance above the ground, sea level, the horizon, or other reference position
low cloud
b (in combination)
low-lying
a involving or containing a relatively small amount of something
a low supply
b (in combination)
low-pressure
a having little value or quality
b (in combination)
low-grade
5 of less than the usual or expected height, depth, or degree
low temperature
b (of measurements) expressed in small numbers
7 unfavourable
a low opinion
8 not advanced in evolution
a low form of plant life
10 coarse or vulgar
a low conversation
a inferior in culture or status
b (in combination)
low-class
12 in a physically or mentally depressed or weakened state
13 designed so as to reveal the wearer's neck and part of the bosom
a low neckline
14 with a hushed tone; quiet or soft
a low whisper
15 of relatively small price or monetary value
low cost
16 (Music) relating to or characterized by a relatively low pitch
17 (of latitudes) situated not far north or south of the equator
18 having little or no money
20 (Phonetics) of, relating to, or denoting a vowel whose articulation is produced by moving the back of the tongue away from the soft palate or the blade away from the hard palate, such as for the a in English father
Compare →
high →
22
21 (of a gear) providing a relatively low forward speed for a given engine speed
22 usually cap of or relating to the Low Church
adv
23 in a low position, level, degree, intensity, etc.
to bring someone low
24 at a low pitch; deep
to sing low
25 at a low price; cheaply
to buy low
a to cause to fall by a blow
b to overcome, defeat or destroy
a to keep or be concealed or quiet
b to wait for a favourable opportunity
n
28 a low position, level, or degree
an all-time low
29 an area of relatively low atmospheric pressure, esp. a depression
30 (Electronics) the voltage level in a logic circuit corresponding to logical zero
Compare →
high →
40
(C12 lah, from Old Norse lagr; related to Old Frisian lech low, Dutch laag)
♦
lowness n
low [2]
n (also)
♦
lowing
1 the sound uttered by cattle; moo
vb
2 to make or express by a low or moo
(Old English hlowan; related to Dutch loeien, Old Saxon hloian)
Low
n Sir David. 1891--1963, British political cartoonist, born in New Zealand: created Colonel Blimp
See →
blimp 2
low-alcohol
adj (of beer or wine) containing only a small amount of alcohol
Compare →
alcohol-free
Low Archipelago
n another name for the →
Tuamotu Archipelago
low camp
n an unsophisticated form of camp (the style)
low-carbon steel
n (Engineering) steel containing between 0.04 and 0.25 per cent carbon
Low Church
n
1 the school of thought in the Church of England stressing evangelical beliefs and practices
Compare →
Broad Church →
High Church
adj
♦
Low-Church
2 of or relating to this school
♦
Low-Churchman n
low comedy
n comedy characterized by slapstick and physical action
♦
low comedian n
Low Countries
pl n the lowland region of W Europe, on the North Sea: consists of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands
low-density lipoprotein
n a lipoprotein that is the form in which cholesterol is transported in the bloodstream to the cells and tissues of the body. High levels of low-density lipoprotein in the blood are associated with atheroma, (Abbrev.)
LDL
low-down Informal
adj
1 mean, underhand, or despicable
n
♦
lowdown
2 information, esp. secret or true information
low explosive
n an explosive of relatively low power, as used in firearms
low frequency
n a radio-frequency band or a frequency lying between 300 and 30 kilohertz, (Abbrev.)
LF
Low German
n a language of N Germany, spoken esp. in rural areas: more closely related to Dutch than to standard High German, (Also called)
Plattdeutsch (Abbrev.)
LG See also →
German →
High German
low-key , low-keyed
adj
1 having a low intensity or tone
2 restrained, subdued, or understated
3 (of a photograph, painting, etc.) having a predominance of dark grey tones or dark colours with few highlights
Compare →
high-key
Low Latin
n any form or dialect of Latin other than the classical, such as Vulgar or Medieval Latin
low-level language
n a computer programming language that is closer to machine language than to human language
Compare →
high-level language
low-level waste
n waste material contaminated by traces of radioactivity that can be disposed of in steel drums in concrete-lined trenches but not (since 1983) in the sea
Compare →
high-level waste →
intermediate-level waste
low-loader
n a road or rail vehicle for heavy loads with a low platform for ease of access
Low Mass
n a Mass that has a simplified ceremonial form and is spoken rather than sung
Compare →
High Mass
low-minded
adj having a vulgar or crude mind and character
♦
low-mindedly adv
♦
low-mindedness n
low-necked
adj (of a woman's garment) having a low neckline
low-pass filter
n (Electronics) a filter that transmits all frequencies below a specified value, substantially attenuating frequencies above this value
Compare →
high-pass filter →
band-pass filter
low-pitched
adj
2 (of a roof) having sides with a shallow slope
low-pressure
adj
1 having, using, or involving a pressure below normal
a low-pressure gas
low profile
n
a a position or attitude characterized by a deliberate avoidance of prominence or publicity
b (as modifier)
a low-profile approach
adj
♦
low-profile
2 (of a tyre) wide in relation to its height, (Compare)
→
high profile
low relief
n another term for →
bas-relief
low-rent
adj
Informal cheap and inferior
low-rent films
low-rise
adj
1 of or relating to a building having only a few storeys
Compare →
high-rise
n
low-spirited
adj depressed, dejected, or miserable
♦
low-spiritedly adv
♦
low-spiritedness n
Low Sunday
n the Sunday after Easter
(probably so named because of its relative unimportance in contrast with Easter Sunday)
low tech
n
1 short for →
low technology
2 a style of interior design using items associated with low technology
adj
♦
low-tech
3 of or using low technology
4 of or in the interior design style, (Compare)
→
hi tech
low technology
n simple unsophisticated technology, often that used for centuries, that is limited to the production of basic necessities
low-tension
adj subjected to, carrying, or capable of operating at a low voltage, (Abbrev.)
LT
low tide
n
1 the tide when it is at its lowest level or the time at which it reaches this
low-velocity zone
n a layer or zone in the earth in which the velocity of seismic waves is slightly lower than in the layers above and below. The asthenosphere is thought to be such a zone
See →
asthenosphere
low water
n
1 another name for →
low tide →
1
2 the state of any stretch of water at its lowest level
3 a situation of difficulty or point of least success, excellence, etc.
low-water mark
n
1 the level reached by seawater at low tide or by other stretches of water at their lowest level
2 the lowest point or level; nadir
Middle Low German
n Low German from about 1200 to about 1500, (Abbrev.)
MLG
Old Low German
n the Saxon and Low Franconian dialects of German up to about 1200; the old form of modern Low German and Dutch, (Abbrev.)
OLG
very low frequency
n a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 3 and 30 kilohertz, (Abbrev.)
VLF