low
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++low1 /ləʊ $ loʊ/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective (comparative lower, superlative lowest) 
1 small amount/level/value 少量/低水平/低价值 a) LITTLE/NOT MUCHsmall, or smaller than usual, in amount, level, or value 〔数量、水平或价值〕少的，低的 OPP highlow income/pay/wages families existing on very low incomes 低收入家庭 In May, the price of cocoa fell to its lowest level since 1975–76. 5月份，可可粉的价格降到了1975至1976年以来的最低水平。 Morale has been low since the latest round of job cuts. 自最近一轮裁员以来，士气一直很低落。 In this sort of investment, the risks are fairly low. 这种投资风险相当小。 low temperatures 低温 the need for low-cost housing 对廉价住房的需求 a low-security prison 低度设防监狱 b) low in somethingLITTLE/NOT MUCH having less than the usual amount of a substance or chemical 某物含量低的 OPP high food that is low in calories 低热量食品low-fat/low-salt etc low-alcohol beer 低度啤酒 c) in the low 20s/30s etcHMNLITTLE/NOT MUCH if a number, temperature, or level is in the low 20s, 30s etc, it is between 21 and 23,31 and 33 etc 〔数字、温度或水平〕在20多一点/50多一点等 Tonight, temperatures in most areas will be in the low 50s. 今晚大部分地区的气温将略高于50度。► see thesaurus at cheap, small2 height 高度 a) LOWhaving a top that is not far above the ground 矮的 OPP high a low wall 一堵矮墙 a long low building 一栋长而矮的建筑 b) LOWat a point that is not far above the ground or near the bottom of something 低的，下面的 OPP high low clouds 低垂的云 The sun was low in the sky now. 太阳此刻低悬在空中。 Store raw meat on the lowest shelf. 把生肉存放在最下面一格架子上。 c) LOWbelow the usual height 低于一般高度的 OPP high a low bridge 矮桥 a low ceiling 低矮的天花板 The river is very low today. 今天河水水位很低。3 standards/quality 标准/质量GOOD ENOUGH bad, or below an acceptable or usual level or quality 低水平的；标准低的 SYN poor OPP high Their safety standards seem to be pretty low. 他们的安全标准似乎相当低。 Cost-cutting has led to a lower quality of service. 削减成本导致服务质量降低。 the children’s low achievement in school 孩子们在学校里不好的成绩4 supply 供应LITTLE/NOT MUCH if you are low on something, or if your supply of something is low, there is not much of it left 短缺的，将耗尽的5 voice/sound 嗓音/声音6 light 光线CCBRIGHT a light that is low is not bright 暗淡的 SYN dim7. heat 热度TMT if you cook something over a low heat or in a low oven, you cook it using only a small amount of heat 〔烹调时〕低温的，低热度的 OPP high8. battery 电池TPE a battery that is low does not have much power left in it 电力不足的9. clothes 衣服DCC a low dress, blouse etc does not cover your neck and the top of your chest 〔连衣裙、衬衫等〕领口低的，低胸的 → low-cut10 unhappy 不高兴的 [not before noun]SAD/UNHAPPY unhappy and without much hope for the future 不高兴的，情绪低落的 SYN depressed —lowness noun [uncountable] → be at a low ebb at ebb1(2)n THESAURUSvoices/sounds that are not highlow a low voice or sound is not high on the scale of musical soundsI can’t sing the low notes.He’s got quite a low singing voice.Boys’ voices usually become much lower as they get older.deep a deep voice or sound is low, strong, and pleasantHe has a lovely deep voice.The engine has a wonderfully deep sound to it, like it’s ready to race.husky a husky voice is deep, quiet, and rough-sounding, especially in a way that is attractiveMonroe sang 'Happy Birthday, Mr President’ in a slow husky voice.His voice dropped to a husky whisper.gravelly a gravelly voice is very low and rough soundingThe singer is famous for his gravelly voice.Examples from the Corpus
low• It's a good time to buy a computer, because prices are low.• This kept my lower body warm, but I had to cover the rest of myself with a comforter.• I'm going to trim some of the low branches.• a low building• He's been on a low-cholesterol diet since his heart attack.• low-cost housing• Could resources be combined efficiently or different resources be used so that the same activities could be produced at lower costs?• a low fence• Thus the movement is striking at the early stages: nursery school, kindergarten, and the lower grades.• A low humming noise was coming from the refrigerator.• a low income• Families struggling on low incomes can get help from the scheme provided at least one adult is working at least 24 hours a week.• Low interest rates mean good news for home owners.• It was a while before Samuel's eyes got used to the low lighting of the intensive care unit.• For our anniversary, let's go to a restaurant with low lights and soft music.• Gripping his stomach, he let out a low moan.• I can't sing the low notes.• Details of decorative paintwork were visible on his left side although only the lower portion of the work could be seen clearly.• The Schaumburg, Illinois, company blamed the earnings decline on lower prices and slower sales.• a low-risk investment• a low-salt diet• I've been feeling pretty low since he left.• He's got quite a low singing voice.• Around 30 bikes were crashed, most at low speed.• In the middle of the room was a low table.• 'Take care, ' he said in a low voice.• Farm workers are complaining about long hours and low wages.• It rejected, in somewhat scathing terms, the owners' proposals for a combination of longer hours and lower wages.be/get/run low (on something)• The medical supplies were getting low.• Asked about this, Mr Turney says it has happened now and then when a distributor ran low.• Gina Smouse notes that by using low-fat evaporated milk and egg substitute, the fat content of the pudding will be lower.• Others say the figure could be lower.• The shoulder angle should be low.• Their rates tend to be lower because they don't have to pay commission to middlemen.• When supplies ran low inside, the air force dropped pallets of food and ammunition into the compound.• It may be lower than the original investment.• Sales are expected to be lower under this policy and are projected at $ 70,000,000.in ... low spirits• When in low spirits, seek gainful employment.low2 ●●● W1 adverb (comparative lower, superlative lowest) 1 LOWin or to a low position or level 低；低水平地2 LOWnear the ground or the bottom of something 高出地面不多地，不高地3 LOW SOUND OR VOICEif you play or sing musical notes low, you play or sing them with deep notes 〔弹奏或唱歌时〕用低音调；低沉地4. be brought low old-fashionedHARM/BE BAD FOR to become much less rich or important 变得远不如原来富有[重要] → search/look high and low at high2(6), → lay somebody low at lay2(20), → lie low at lie1(7)Examples from the Corpus
low• Turn lights down low.• She sang low and sweetly.• The sun sank low on the horizon.• The plane flew low over the fields.• We had to bend down low to get through the opening.• If I were laid low tomorrow you wouldn't have to worry.• Key questions the new trials aim to answer are: Should low yielding areas get more?low3 ●○○ noun [countable] 1 PEBa low price, level, or value 低价；低水平；低价值 OPP high2 SERIOUS SITUATIONa very difficult time in someone’s personal or working life 〔某人生活或职业生涯中的〕低潮，低谷3 4 the lowest of the low Examples from the Corpus
low• A low is making its way over the Mid-Atlantic states.• His celebrity status gave him access to the Hollywood highs - and lows.• The Tide tables can not be relied on for precise highs and lows of the tides.• Julia Knights reports on the highs and lows of harvest 2000.• The official discount rate is at a historic low of 0. 50 percent.• Confrderate hopes hit a new low.• The overnight low will be 25° F.• Its record low was 78. 19, set Sept. 2,1992.• The market is also highly sensitive because trading volumes are running close to 10-year lows.all-time low• From where she sits, morale looks to be at an all-time low.• Edward's affair and subsequent marriage to divorced Mrs Simpson had left the family's popularity at an all-time low.• World cotton consumption was a record 86m bales, and the ratio of stocks to consumption was at an all-time low.• But when she resisted the charms of Hollywood's legendary romeo it hit an all-time low.• World Series prime-time ratings hit an all-time low.• As we reported earlier, scores on these surveys had reached an all-time low.• It hit its all-time low of 5.5 million tons in 1932.• The stockmarket's all-time low, remember, was a little over 20,000, reached at the end of October 1990.highs and lows (of something)• Tendency to mania; has highs and lows.• This book follows young Pip through his life and into his mid thirties and shows his highs and lows.• For Kip, highs and lows were tolerable.• There are too many jagged edges to the Clinton experience, too many highs and lows.• The Tide tables can not be relied on for precise highs and lows of the tides.• The event had all the highs and lows of a record attempt.• Julia Knights reports on the highs and lows of harvest 2000.low4 verb [intransitive] literary TACif cattle low, they make a deep sound 〔牛〕哞哞叫→ See Verb tableFrom Longman Business Dictionarylowlow1 /ləʊloʊ/ adjective1small, or smaller than usual, in amount, level, or degreeCity analysts have said the takeover offer is too low.It is vital to keep your overhead costs as low as possible.people on low incomesa mortgage at a low rate of interesta low-risk venturea policy of low inflation2below an acceptable standard or qualitySafety standards in the industry are much too low.Cost-cutting has led to a lower quality of service.3a supply of something that is low is nearly finishedStocks are getting low.lowlow2 noun [countable usually singular] a low price or levelIts shares fell to a low of 550p.Inflation is heading for an all-time low. → historic lowOrigin low1 (1100-1200) Old Norse lagr low4 Old English hlowanlow1 adjective →n THESAURUS1low2 adverblow3 nounlow4 verbLDOCE OnlineChinese
small, or Corpus Business in than usual, amount, or level, value smaller
low
low1 S1 W1 /ləʊ $ loʊ/ 
adjective (comparative lower, superlative lowest)
a. small, or smaller than usual, in amount, level, or value
OPP high
low income/pay/wages
families existing on very low incomes
In May, the price of cocoa fell to its lowest level since 1975–76.
Morale has been low since the latest round of job cuts.
In this sort of investment, the risks are fairly low.
low temperatures
the need for low-cost housing
a low-security prison
b. low in something having less than the usual amount of a substance or chemical
OPP high:
food that is low in calories
low-fat/low-salt etc
low-alcohol beer
c. in the low 20s/50s etc if a number, temperature, or level is in the low 20s, 30s etc, it is between 21 and 23, 31 and 33 etc:
Tonight, temperatures in most areas will be in the low 50s.
2.
HEIGHT
a. having a top that is not far above the ground
OPP high:
a low wall
a long low building
b. at a point that is not far above the ground or near the bottom of something
OPP high:
low clouds
The sun was low in the sky now.
Store raw meat on the lowest shelf.
c. below the usual height
OPP high:
a low bridge
a low ceiling
The river is very low today.
3. STANDARDS/QUALITY bad, or below an acceptable or usual level or quality
SYN poor
OPP high:
Their safety standards seem to be pretty low.
Cost-cutting has led to a lower quality of service.
the children’s low achievement in school
4. SUPPLY if you are low on something, or if your supply of something is low, there is not much of it left
be/get/run low (on something)
We’re running low on gas.
Stocks are getting low.
5. VOICE/SOUND
a. not loud:
I heard a low moaning noise.
The volume is too low – turn it up.
a low whisper
b. not high:
a low note
6. LIGHT a light that is low is not bright
SYN dim:
Use low lighting to give the room a romantic atmosphere.
7. HEAT if you cook something over a low heat or in a low oven, you cook it using only a small amount of heat
OPP high
8. BATTERY a battery that is low does not have much power left in it
9. CLOTHES a low dress, blouse etc does not cover your neck and the top of your chest ⇨ low-cut
10. UNHAPPY [not before noun] unhappy and without much hope for the future
SYN depressed:
He was feeling a bit low, so I did my best to cheer him up.
Terry seems to be in rather low spirits today.
⇨ be at a low ebb at ebb1(2)
—lowness noun [uncountable]
■ voices/sounds that are not high
▪low a low voice or sound is not high on the scale of musical sounds: I can’t sing the low notes. | He’s got quite a low singing voice. | Boys’ voices usually become much lower as they get older.
▪deep a deep voice or sound is low, strong, and pleasant: He has a lovely deep voice. | The engine has a wonderfully deep sound to it, like it’s ready to race.
▪husky a husky voice is deep, quiet, and rough-sounding, especially in a way that is attractive: Monroe sang 'Happy Birthday, Mr President’ in a slow husky voice. | His voice dropped to a husky whisper.
▪gravelly a gravelly voice is very low and rough sounding: The singer is famous for his gravelly voice.
low2 adverb (comparative lower, superlative lowest)1. in or to a low position or level:
He bent low over the engine.
She pulled her hat low down over her eyes.
I had the radio on low.
2. near the ground or the bottom of something:
That plane’s flying too low__
There was a hole low down in the hedge.
3. if you play or sing musical notes low, you play or sing them with deep notes:
Sing those bars an octave lower.
4. be brought low old-fashioned to become much less rich or important
⇨ search/look high and low at high2(6), ⇨ lay somebody low at lay2(20), ⇨ lie low at lie1(7)
low3 noun [countable]1. a low price, level, or value
OPP high
fall to/hit/reach etc a new low (=be worth less than ever before)
The euro has fallen to a new low against the dollar.
Public confidence in the legal system is at an all-time low (=much lower or worse than ever before).
2. a very difficult time in someone’s personal or working life
highs and lows (of something) (=good times and bad times)
the highs and lows of an actor’s life
3.
a. the lowest point that the temperature reaches during a particular time
OPP high:
The overnight low will be 8°C.
b. an area of low pressure in the air
OPP high:
a low moving in over the Pacific
4. the lowest of the low
a. informal someone you think is completely unfair, cruel, immoral etc
b. someone from a low social class – often used humorously
low4 verb [intransitive] literary
| I |
adjective (comparative lower, superlative lowest) Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old Norse
Origin: lagr
1. SMALL AMOUNT/LEVEL/VALUE Language: Old Norse
Origin: lagr
a. small, or smaller than usual, in amount, level, or value
OPP high
low income/pay/wages
b. low in something having less than the usual amount of a substance or chemical
OPP high:
low-fat/low-salt etc
c. in the low 20s/50s etc if a number, temperature, or level is in the low 20s, 30s etc, it is between 21 and 23, 31 and 33 etc:
2.
HEIGHT
a. having a top that is not far above the ground
OPP high:
b. at a point that is not far above the ground or near the bottom of something
OPP high:
c. below the usual height
OPP high:
3. STANDARDS/QUALITY bad, or below an acceptable or usual level or quality
SYN poor
OPP high:
4. SUPPLY if you are low on something, or if your supply of something is low, there is not much of it left
be/get/run low (on something)
5. VOICE/SOUND
a. not loud:
b. not high:
6. LIGHT a light that is low is not bright
SYN dim:
7. HEAT if you cook something over a low heat or in a low oven, you cook it using only a small amount of heat
OPP high
8. BATTERY a battery that is low does not have much power left in it
9. CLOTHES a low dress, blouse etc does not cover your neck and the top of your chest ⇨ low-cut
10. UNHAPPY [not before noun] unhappy and without much hope for the future
SYN depressed:
⇨ be at a low ebb at ebb1(2)
—lowness noun [uncountable]
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
adverb (comparative lower, superlative lowest)1. in or to a low position or level: 2. near the ground or the bottom of something:
3. if you play or sing musical notes low, you play or sing them with deep notes:
4. be brought low old-fashioned to become much less rich or important
⇨ search/look high and low at high2(6), ⇨ lay somebody low at lay2(20), ⇨ lie low at lie1(7)
| III |
noun [countable]1. a low price, level, or value OPP high
fall to/hit/reach etc a new low (=be worth less than ever before)
2. a very difficult time in someone’s personal or working life
highs and lows (of something) (=good times and bad times)
3.
a. the lowest point that the temperature reaches during a particular time
OPP high:
b. an area of low pressure in the air
OPP high:
4. the lowest of the low
a. informal someone you think is completely unfair, cruel, immoral etc
b. someone from a low social class – often used humorously
| IV |
verb [intransitive] literary Language: Old English
Origin: hlowan
if cattle low, they make a deep sound
Origin: hlowan
