below

English Online Dictionary. What means below‎? What does below mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English bilooghe, equivalent to be- +‎ low. Compare also earlier Middle English alogh, alow, aloȝ, alowe (“below”), benethen (“beneath”), Dutch omlaag (“downwards”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /bɪˈləʊ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /bɪˈloʊ/
• Hyphenation: be‧low
• Rhymes: -əʊ

Preposition

below

1. Lower in spatial position than.

2. Lower than in value, price, rank, concentration, etc.

3. Downstream of.

4. South of.

5. Unsuitable to the rank or dignity of; beneath.

6. (stage directions) Downstage of.
   • 1952, Frederick Knott, Dial "M" for Murder, 1954 Dramatists Play Service acting edition, act 1, scene 1:

     Below the sofa is a low, round coffee table.

Synonyms

• (lower in spatial position than): beneath, under, underneath
• (lower in value than): under
• (downstream of): downstream
• (unsuitable to the rank or dignity of): beneath

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “lower in spatial position than”): above, over
• (antonym(s) of “lower in value than”): above, over
• (antonym(s) of “downstream of”): upstream

Derived terms

• below the belt

Translations

Adverb

below (not comparable)

1. In or to a lower place.
   1. On or to a lower storey.

   2. (nautical) On or to a lower deck, especially as relative to the main deck.

2. Later in the same text.

3. (of a temperature) Below zero.

Synonyms

• (in a lower place): beneath, under, underneath
• (on a lower storey): downstairs
• (farther down): downwards

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “in a lower place”): aloft, overhead, up
• (antonym(s) of “on a lower storey”): upstairs
• (antonym(s) of “farther down”): upwards

Derived terms

Translations

References

• Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "The vertical axis", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition, Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8

Anagrams

• Blowe, Lebow, blowe, bowel, bowle, elbow