Narrow
Pronunciation in accents without the w, English-language_vowel_changes_before_historic_/r/#Mary.E2.80.93marry.E2.80.93merry_merger, "Mary, marry, merry" merger in accents with the
- US IPA: /ˈnæɹoʊ/, /neɹoʊ/ˈnɛɹoʊ/
- RP IPA: /ˈnæɹəʊ/
- Rhymes: -ærəʊ
Origin
From Middle English narow, narowe, narewe, narwe, naru, from Old English nearu ("narrow, strait, confined, constricted, not spacious, limited, petty; limited, poor, restricted; oppressive, causing anxiety (of that which restricts free action of body or mind), causing or accompanied by difficulty, hardship, oppressive; oppressed, not having free action; strict, severe"), from Proto-Germanic *narwaz ("constricted, narrow"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ner- ("to turn, bend, twist, constrict"). Cognate with Scots naro, narow, narrow ("narrow"), North Frisian naar, noar, noor ("narrow"), West Frisian near ("narrow"), Dutch naar ("dismal, bleak, ill, sick"), Low German naar ("dismal, ghastly"), German Narbe ("a closed wound, scar"), Norwegian norve ("a clip, staple"), Icelandic njörva- ("narrow-", in compounds.).
Full definition of narrow
Adjective
narrow
- Having a small width; not wide; slim; slender; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth.a narrow hallway
- 1922, Ben Travers, A Cuckoo in the Nest Chapter 1, She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 14, Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime. Their bases were on a level with the pavement outside, a narrow way which was several feet lower than the road behind the house.
- 2013, Catherine Clabby, Focus on Everything, Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. That’s because the lenses that are excellent at magnifying tiny subjects produce a narrow depth of field. A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that.
- Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed.
- Bishop WilkinsThe Jews were but a small nation, and confined to a narrow compass in the world.
- (figuratively) Restrictive; without flexibility or latitude.a narrow interpretation
- Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted.a narrow mind; narrow views
- Macaulaya narrow understanding
- Having a small margin or degree.a narrow escapeThe Republicans won by a narrow majority.
- 2011, September 18, Ben Dirs, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 41-10 Georgia, As in their narrow defeat of Argentina last week, England were indisciplined at the breakdown, and if Georgian fly-half Merab Kvirikashvili had remembered his kicking boots, Johnson's side might have been behind at half-time.
- (dated) Limited as to means; straitened; pinching.narrow circumstances
- Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish.
- Smalridgea very narrow and stinted charity
- Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact.
- MiltonBut first with narrow search I must walk round
This garden, and no corner leave unspied. - (phonetics) Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; distinguished from wide.