low
adjective OPAL WOPAL S
/ləʊ/
/ləʊ/
(comparative lower, superlative lowest)
Idioms - a low wall/building/table
- The fence is too low.
- a low range of hills
- low clouds
- flying at low altitude
- The sun was low in the sky.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- low back pain
- the lower slopes of the mountain
- in the low 20s, 30s, etc. temperatures in the low 20s (= no higher than 21–23°)
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- not high at the neck
- a dress with a low neckline
Extra Examples- The neckline was much lower than she was used to.
- The dress had a V-neck and a very low back.
- tight sweaters and low-neck shirts
- (also low-)(often in compounds) below the usual or average amount, level or value
- a low level of unemployment
- lower prices/costs
- the lowest rates of interest for 40 years
- the lowest temperature ever recorded
- low-income families
- a low-cost airline
- low-tar cigarettes
- There is a low risk of failure.
- Incomes are significantly lower than in other parts of the country.
- areas with relatively low unemployment
- low in something This yogurt is very low in fat.
Extra Examples- The failure rate is extremely low.
- The government wants to keep taxes low.
- historically low marriage statistics
- Their ready meals are low in sugar and salt.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- in
- The reservoir was low after the long drought.
- Our supplies are running low (= we only have a little left).
- Our stocks of food were getting low.
- A warning light flashes when the battery is low.
- low on something They were low on fuel.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- in
- Students with the lowest scores retook the test.
- low marks/grades
- a low standard of living
Extra Examples- Much of the work was of a very low standard.
- These measures will lead to a lower quality of life for many older people.
- lower forms of life (= creatures with a very simple structure)
- jobs with low status
- Training was given a very low priority.
- the lower classes of society
- She has a very low opinion of her own abilities.
- The cello is lower than the violin.
- They were speaking in low voices.
- Keep your voice low.
- weak or depressed; with very little energy synonym down
- I'm feeling really low.
- They were in low spirits.
- I think he got a bit low when he had the flu.
- (of a person) not honest synonym disreputable
- He mixes with some pretty low types.
- not bright synonym dim
- The lights were low and romance was in the air.
- if a vehicle is in low gear, it travels at a slower speed in relation to the speed of the engine
- (also open)(of a vowel) produced by opening the mouth wide
not high/tall
near bottom
clothing
level/value
standard
status
opinion
sound
depressed
not honest
light
in vehicle
phonetics
Word Originadjective Middle English: from Old Norse lágr, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch laag, also to lie.
Idioms
at a low ebb
- in a poor state; worse than usual
- Morale among teachers is at a low ebb.
be brought low
- (old-fashioned) to lose your wealth or your high position in society
a high/low profile
- the amount of attention somebody/something has from the public
- This issue has had a high profile in recent months.
- I advised her to keep a low profile for the next few days (= not to attract attention).
- The story was given a low profile in today's papers.
lay somebody low
- if somebody is laid low by/with an injury or illness, they feel very weak and are unable to do much
the lowest of the low
- people who are not respected at all because they are not honest, moral or important at all