brow

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableliterary

   The part of the face between the eyes and the hairline; the forehead.

   Grammar: Often used with wipe or furrow: wipe your brow.

   Patterns

   • wipe your brow
   • furrow your brow

   He wiped the sweat from his brow.

   She furrowed her brow while reading the contract.

   A cool cloth rested on the patient's brow.

2. 2nouncountable

   The ridge of hair above each eye; an eyebrow.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrases raise a brow and arch a brow.

   Patterns

   • raise a brow
   • arch a brow

   He raised a brow at the strange excuse.

   She shaped her brows at the salon.

3. 3nouncountable

   The highest edge of a hill or cliff.

   Grammar: Usually followed by of: the brow of the hill.

   Patterns

   • the brow of something

   The cottage stood just below the brow of the hill.

   We climbed up to the brow of the ridge.

Word forms

Common combinations

furrowed brow

He sat with a furrowed brow, studying the map.

wipe your brow

The runner paused to wipe his brow.

sweat on your brow

There was sweat on her brow after the climb.

the brow of a hill

A car appeared over the brow of the hill.

knit your brow

She knit her brow in concentration.

Synonyms and how they differ

forehead

Forehead is the plain everyday word; brow sounds more literary and often emphasizes expression.

eyebrow

Eyebrow means only the strip of hair above the eye, while brow can mean the whole area.

crest

Crest is the top of a hill or wave, close to the third sense, but it suggests a distinct ridge.

Word family

eyebrow noun

the line of hair above the eye

browbeat verb

to intimidate with a stern manner

highbrow adjective

concerned with serious culture

lowbrow adjective

aimed at simple, popular tastes

Commonly confused: brow or brown?

Practice

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