brow

[ brou ]

noun

1. Anatomy. the ridge over the eye.
2. the hair growing on that ridge; eyebrow.
3. the forehead:

   He wore his hat low over his brow.

4. a person's countenance or mien.
5. the edge of a steep place:

   She looked down over the brow of the hill.

6. gangplank.

brow

/ braʊ /

noun

1. the part of the face from the eyes to the hairline; forehead
2. short for eyebrow
3. the expression of the face; countenance

   a troubled brow

4. the top of a mine shaft; pithead
5. the jutting top of a hill, etc
6. dialect.
   a steep slope on a road

Word History and Origins

Origin of brow¹

before 1000; Middle English browe, Old English brū; akin to Old Norse brūn, Sanskrit bhrūs

Word History and Origins

Origin of brow¹

Old English brū ; related to Old Norse brūn eyebrow, Lithuanian bruvis , Greek ophrus , Sanskrit bhrūs

Idioms and Phrases

see by the sweat of one's brow ; cause raised eyebrows .

Example Sentences

Then, suddenly, gripping her head in both hands, he blew on her brow.

From Slate

There was the arched brow, the hand on chin.

From Los Angeles Times

The slow blink, the chin stroke, the quirked brow, the squinting, laughing eyes?

From Slate

"Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."

From Salon

“He split his brow,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eyebrow