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brow

n.
US //ˈbɹaʊ// UK //bɹˈaʊ// brow
  1. 1 the forehead (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    the part of your face above your eyes.

    the forehead, often used in literature to describe a person's expression or state of mind.

    Example

    He wiped the sweat from his brow after working in the garden all afternoon.

    Example

    A deep furrow appeared on her brow as she struggled to decipher the cryptic instructions left by her predecessor.
  2. 2 the eyebrow (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the line of hair above your eye.

    the eyebrow or the bony ridge located directly above the eye socket.

    Example

    She raised a brow in surprise when she heard the unexpected news.

    Example

    The boxer suffered a deep laceration above his left brow, forcing the referee to pause the match for a medical evaluation.
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  1. 3 top of a hill (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the very top edge of a hill or a steep slope.

    the projecting upper edge of a steep place, such as a hill or a cliff.

    Example

    As we reached the brow of the hill, we saw the ocean for the first time.

    Example

    The hikers paused at the brow of the ridge to catch their breath and admire the panoramic view of the valley below.
  2. 4 ship's gangway (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Nautical

    a bridge or ramp used to walk between a ship and the land.

    a portable bridge or gangway used for boarding or disembarking from a vessel alongside a quay.

    Example

    The sailors lowered the brow so the passengers could walk onto the pier.

    Example

    The captain ordered the crew to secure the brow firmly to the wharf before allowing the heavy equipment to be rolled ashore.
Origin

From Middle English browe, from Old English brū, from Proto-West Germanic brāwu, from Proto-Germanic brūwō, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃bʰrúHs (“brow”). Cognate with Scots broo (“brow”), Dutch brauw (“brow”), German Braue (“eyebrow”), Danish, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish bryn (“brow”), Faroese, Icelandic brún (“brow”). See also Middle Irish brúad, Tocharian B pärwāne (“eyebrows”), Lithuanian bruvi̇̀s, Serbo-Croatian obrva (“eyebrow”), Russian бровь (brovʹ, “brow”), Ancient Greek ὀφρύς (ophrús, “eyebrow”), Sanskrit भ्रू (bhrū, “eyebrow”)), Persian ابرو (abru, “eyebrow”), Khowar بروُ (bruú, “eyebrow”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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