Frown

//fɹaʊn// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    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"

  2. 2
    a facial expression of dislike or displeasure wordnet
  3. 3
    A downturn of the corners of the mouth, typically expressing sadness. Canada, US

    "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."

  4. 4
    Any facial expression that indicates disapproval or displeasure.
Verb
  1. 1
    To have a frown on one's face. intransitive

    "She frowned when I told her the news."

  2. 2
    look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval wordnet
  3. 3
    To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavour or threateningly. figuratively, intransitive

    "Noisy gossip in the library is frowned upon."

  4. 4
    To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look. transitive

    "Let us frown the impudent fellow into silence."

  5. 5
    To communicate by frowning. transitive

    "Frank frowned his displeasure with my proposal."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English frown, froun (“a threatening appearance; lowering of the clouds”), from frounen (“to frown”). See below.

Etymology 2

From Middle English frounen (“to frown as an expression of disapproval, displeasure, shame, fear, or jealousy”), from Old French frognier (“to frown or scowl”), from Gaulish *frognā (“nostril”), from Proto-Celtic *srognā.

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: frown