/fɹaʊn/
OriginFrom Middle English frown, froun (“a threatening appearance; lowering of the clouds”), from frounen (“to frown”). See below.
- A wrinkling of the forehead with the eyebrows brought together, typically indicating displeasure, severity, or concentration.
“Philip had once told him of a man who had a horse-shoe frown, and Tom had tried with all his frowning-might to make a horse-shoe on his forehead”
“He encounters some obstacle in his train of reasoning ... and then a frown passes like a shadow over his brow.”
- Canada, USA downturn of the corners of the mouth, typically expressing sadness.
“The smile and the frown are both indicated and the operation of a motor driven flasher causes the face to look happy and sad in turn.”
- Any facial expression that indicates disapproval or displeasure.
- intransitiveTo have a frown on one's face.
“She frowned when I told her the news.”
- figuratively, intransitiveTo manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavour or threateningly.
“Noisy gossip in the library is frowned upon.”
“The sky doth frown and lower upon our army.”
- transitiveTo repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look.
“Let us frown the impudent fellow into silence.”
- transitiveTo communicate by frowning.
“Frank frowned his displeasure with my proposal.”
“As the band paused between songs, a gust of wind blew a distinctive Worthy Farm odour in the direction of drummer/vocalist Julien Ehrich: “Wow,” he frowned, “this place smells of cow shit.””
Formsfrowns(plural) · frowns(present, singular, third-person) · frowning(participle, present) · frowned(participle, past) · frowned(past)