What does "lowering" mean?

1. (the act of bringing down) the act of making something lower or less. 2. (vowel change) a change in how a person says a vowel sound, making it sound lower in the mouth. 3. (dark and threatening) looking dark and stormy, or having a mean and angry look on your face.

How do you use "lowering"?

Often spelled 'louring' in older British texts.

lowering

n. · adj.

US //ˈɫoʊɝɪŋ// low·er·ing

1 the act of bringing down (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of making something lower or less.

the act or process of bringing something down in height, level, or status.

Example

The lowering of the flag happens every day at sunset.

Example

The gradual lowering of the water level revealed several ancient structures that had been submerged for decades.
- reduction
- descent
- elevation
- rise
2 vowel change (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

a change in how a person says a vowel sound, making it sound lower in the mouth.

a phonological process in which a vowel is produced with a lower tongue position than its previous or original state.

Example

The teacher explained how the vowel sound changed through lowering over many years.

Example

Historical linguists often cite the lowering of certain high vowels as a key feature in the evolution of this specific dialect group.
- raising

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3 dark and threatening (adj.)
C1 Advanced Literary

looking dark and stormy, or having a mean and angry look on your face.

appearing dark, overcast, and threatening, as of the sky or weather; can also describe a sullen or frowning facial expression.

Example

The lowering clouds made us think a big storm was coming.

Example

Under a lowering sky, the hikers hurried toward the shelter, wary of the approaching thunder and the lack of natural cover.

Usage

Often spelled 'louring' in older British texts.
- bright
- clear

Etymology 1

c. 1600, "descend, sink, grow less or lower" (intransitive), from lower (adj.), comparative of low (adj.). Transitive meaning "let down, cause to descend" attested from 1650s. Related: Lowered; lowering. In the transitive sense "to cause to descend" the older verb was low. From Middle English lahghenn, (c. 1200), which continued in use into the 18c.

Etymology 2

From Middle English louryng, louringe, lowrynge, later variant of lourand, lowrand, lourande, lowrande, equivalent to lour + -ing. Cognate with Dutch loerend (“lurking, louring”).