situated, placed, or occurring not far above the ground, floor, or base

a low shelf.

of small extent upward; not high or tall

A low wall surrounds the property.

not far above the horizon, as a planet

The moon was low in the sky.

lying or being below the general level

low ground.

designating or pertaining to regions near sea level, esp. near the sea

low countries.

bending or passing far downward; deep

a low bow.

(of a garment) low-necked; décolleté

The dress she wore was fashionably low.

rising but slightly from a surface

a low relief on a frieze.

of less than average or normal height or depth, as a liquid or stream

The river is low this time of year.

near the first of a series

a low number.

ranked near the beginning or bottom on some scale of measurement

a low income bracket.

indicating the bottom or the point farthest down

the low point in his creative life.

lacking in strength, energy, or vigor; feeble; weak

to feel low and listless.

providing little nourishment or strength, as a diet.

of small number, amount, degree, force, intensity, etc.

low visibility; a generator with a low output.

indicated or represented by a low number

A low latitude is one relatively near the equator.

soft: subdued; not loud

a low murmur.

Music . produced by relatively slow vibrations, as sounds; grave in pitch.

assigning or attributing little worth, value, excellence, or the like

a low estimate of a new book.

containing a relatively small amount

a diet low in starches.

nearing depletion; not adequately supplied

low on funds; Our stock of towels is low.

depressed or dejected

low spirits.

far down in the scale of rank or estimation; humble

of low birth.

of inferior quality or character

a low grade of fabric; a low type of intellect.

lacking in dignity or elevation, as of thought or expression.

mean, base, or disreputable

low tricks; low companions.

coarse or vulgar

entertainment of a low sort.

Boxing . struck or delivered below a contestant's belt.

Biology . having a relatively simple structure; not complex in organization.

Phonetics . (of a vowel) articulated with a relatively large opening above the tongue, as the vowels of hat, hut, hot, ought, etc. Compare high ( def. 23 ) .

Automotive . of, pertaining to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the drive shaft moves at the lowest speed with relation to the speed of the engine crankshaft, used esp. for temporarily overcoming the weight or inertia of the vehicle; first

low gear.

Baseball . (of a pitched ball) passing the plate at a level below that of the batter's knees

a low curve.

Cards . having less value than other cards

a low card.

Metallurgy . having a relatively small amount of a specified constituent (usually used in combination)

low-carbon steel.

Chiefly British . holding to Low Church principles and practices.

in or to a low position, point, degree, etc.

The raiders crouched low in the bushes.

near the ground, floor, or base; not aloft

The plane flew low.

in or to a humble or abject state

Some live low while others live high. She swore she would bring him low.

in or to a condition of depletion, prostration, or death

The gas in the tank is running low.

at comparatively small cost; cheaply

to buy something low and sell it high.

at or to a low pitch, volume, intensity, etc.

to turn the radio low; lights turned down low.

in a low tone; softly; quietly; to speak low.

Archaic . far down in time; late.

something that is low, as ground or prices

numerous marshy lows in the forest; the recent low in the stock market.

Automotive . low gear; first gear.

Meteorology . an atmospheric low-pressure system; cyclone. Compare high ( def. 37 ) .

Cards .

the lowest trump card.

a card of small value, or of lower value than other cards.

the lowest score in a game.

a player having such a score.

a point of deepest decline, vulgarity, etc.

a new low in tastelessness.

Slang . a period of intense depression or discomfort, when the effects of a drug have subsided. ?

lay low

to overpower or kill; defeat

to lay one's attackers low.

to knock down; make prostrate.

Informal . to lie low.

lie low

to conceal oneself

He had to lie low for a while.

to do nothing until the right opportunity develops; bide one's time

Until the dispute is settled, you would do best to lie low.

adjective

lowermost , nethermost , undermost