English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

brow

brow

Brow (noun) means the ridge above the eyes, including the eyebrow, or the forehead generally. Example: “Sweat trickled down his brow as he worked in the heat.”

noun
1
The ridge above the eyes, including the eyebrow, or the forehead generally.
"Sweat trickled down his brow as he worked in the heat."
"She raised an eyebrow, wrinkling her brow in confusion."
2
The rounded top edge of a hill or steep slope.
"They stopped at the brow of the hill to catch their breath."

How to use brow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe forehead or eyebrow area — or, by extension, the top edge of a hill.

Common pairings
furrowed brow brow of the hill mop one's brow

Word forms

browed past tense, brows plural, Brows plural, brows singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “brow” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Sweat trickled down his _____ as he worked in the heat.

Etymology

From Old English brū, an ancient word shared across many Indo-European languages for the ridge above the eye.

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for brow

See all rhymes for brow →

Frequently asked questions

What does “brow” mean?

The word “brow” means the ridge above the eyes, including the eyebrow, or the forehead generally. In plain terms, the forehead or eyebrow area — or, by extension, the top edge of a hill.

How do you pronounce “brow”?

“Brow” is pronounced brow (/bɹaʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “brow” in a sentence?

Here is “brow” used in a sentence: “Sweat trickled down his brow as he worked in the heat.”

What is another word for “brow”?

Words with a similar meaning to “brow” include forehead.

What part of speech is “brow”?

“Brow” is a noun.

Where does the word “brow” come from?

The word “brow” comes from Old English. From Old English brū, an ancient word shared across many Indo-European languages for the ridge above the eye.

Is “brow” a common word?

“Brow” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “brow” have?

“Brow” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ridge above the eyes, including the eyebrow, or the forehead generally.

What is the difference between brow and eyebrow?

"Brow" can refer to the ridge above the eyes, including the eyebrow, or more broadly to the forehead, while "eyebrow" refers specifically to the strip of hair along that ridge. So "brow" is the wider, more general term.

Can "brow" mean the whole forehead, not just the eyebrow area?

Yes. "Brow" can refer to the forehead generally, not only to the ridge above the eyes, so a phrase like "wiping sweat from one's brow" refers to the broader forehead area.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial