low·er

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• adjective Below another in rank, position, or authority.
• adjective Physically situated below a similar or comparable thing.
• adjective Geology & Archaeology Relating to or being an earlier or older division of the period named.
• adjective Biology Less complex in organization or having traits similar to those of organisms that evolved earlier in the history of life on Earth.
• adjective Denoting the larger and usually more representative house of a bicameral legislature.
• intransitive verb To let, bring, or move down to a lower level.
• intransitive verb To reduce in value, degree, or quality.
• intransitive verb To weaken; undermine.
• intransitive verb To reduce in standing or respect.
• intransitive verb To move down.
• intransitive verb To become less; diminish.
• intransitive verb To look angry, sullen, or threatening. synonym: frown.
• intransitive verb To appear dark or stormy, as the sky.
• noun A threatening, sullen, or angry look.
• noun A dark or stormy appearance.