Definition of Narrow

1. Noun. A narrow strait connecting two bodies of water.

Specialized synonyms: Verrazano Narrows
Generic synonyms: Sound, Strait

2. Verb. Make or become more narrow or restricted. "The road narrowed"
Exact synonyms: Contract
Generic synonyms: Change
Specialized synonyms: Bottleneck, Taper Off
Derivative terms: Contraction, Narrowing
Also: Narrow Down
Antonyms: Widen

3. Adjective. Not wide. "A narrow line across the page"

4. Verb. Define clearly. "I cannot narrow down the rules for this game"
Exact synonyms: Nail Down, Narrow Down, Peg Down, Pin Down, Specify
Generic synonyms: Determine
Specialized synonyms: Concretize
Derivative terms: Specifier

5. Adjective. Limited in size or scope. "The narrow sense of a word"
Similar to: Limited
Derivative terms: Narrowness

6. Verb. Become more focus on an area of activity or field of study. "She specializes in Near Eastern history"
Exact synonyms: Narrow Down, Specialise, Specialize
Generic synonyms: Alter, Change, Vary
Specialized synonyms: Overspecialise, Overspecialize
Antonyms: Diversify, Diversify

7. Adjective. Lacking tolerance or flexibility or breadth of view. "Narrow opinions"

8. Verb. Become tight or as if tight. "Her throat constricted"
Exact synonyms: Constrict, Constringe
Specialized synonyms: Astringe, Strangulate
Generic synonyms: Tighten
Derivative terms: Constriction, Constriction, Narrowing

9. Adjective. Very limited in degree. "A narrow escape"
Similar to: Bare, Marginal
Derivative terms: Narrowness
Antonyms: Wide

10. Adjective. Characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination. "An exact and minute report"
Exact synonyms: Minute
Similar to: Careful
Derivative terms: Minuteness

Definition of Narrow

1. a. Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem.

2. n. A narrow passage; esp., a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water; -- usually in the plural; as, The Narrows of New York harbor.

3. v. t. To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller compass; to reduce the width or extent of.

4. v. i. To become less broad; to contract; to become narrower; as, the sea narrows into a strait.

Definition of Narrow

1. Adjective. having a small width; not wide; slim; slender; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth. ¹

2. Adjective. (figuratively) Restrictive; without flexibility or latitude. ¹

3. Adjective. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To reduce in width or extent; to contract. ¹

5. Verb. (intransitive) To get narrower. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Narrow

1. of little width [adj -ROWER, -ROWEST] : NARROWLY [adv] / to make narrow [v -ED, -ING, -S] - See also: narrow

Medical Definition of Narrow

1. 1. Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem. "Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas." (Shak) 2. Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed. "The Jews were but a small nation, and confined to a narrow compass in the world." (Bp. Wilkins) 3. Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time, or number, etc.; close; near; with special reference to some peril or misfortune; as, a narrow shot; a narrow escape; a narrow majority. 4. Limited as to means; straitened; pinching; as, narrow circumstances. 5. Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted; as, a narrow mind; narrow views. "A narrow understanding." 6. Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish. "A very narrow and stinted charity." (Smalridge) 7. Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact. "But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave unspied." (Milton) 8. 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; as e (eve) and oo (food), etc, from i (ill) and oo (foot), etc. Narrow is not unfrequently prefixed to words, especially to participles and adjectives, forming compounds of obvious signification; as, narrow-bordered, narrow-brimmed, narrow-breasted, narrow-edged, narrow-faced, narrow-headed, narrow-leaved, narrow-pointed, narrow-souled, narrow-sphered, etc. Narrow gauge. See Note under Gauge. Origin: OE. Narwe, naru, AS. Nearu; akin to OS. Naru, naro. 1. To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller compass; to reduce the width or extent of. 2. To contract the reach or sphere of; to make less liberal or more selfish; to limit; to confine; to restrict; as, to narrow one's views or knowledge; to narrow a question in discussion. "Our knowledge is much more narrowed if we confine ourselves to our own solitary reasonings." (I. Watts) 3. To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one. Origin: AS. Nearwian. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Narrow

narrativized
narrativizes
narrativizing
narratological
narratologies
narratologist
narratologists
narratology
narrator
narratorless
narratorly
narrators
narratory
narratrix
narre
narrow (current term)
narrow-angle glaucoma
narrow-body
narrow-body aircraft
narrow-leaf cattail
narrow-leaf penstemon
narrow-leaved bottletree
narrow-leaved everlasting pea
narrow-leaved flame flower
narrow-leaved plantain
narrow-leaved reedmace
narrow-leaved spleenwort
narrow-leaved strap fern
narrow-leaved water plantain
narrow-leaved white-topped aster

Literary usage of Narrow

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Annual Report by Ontario Dept. of Highways, Ontario Dept. of Agriculture and Food, Ontario Dept. of Public Works (1897)
"Through such surfaces the narrow tires cut and the load is, ... Experiments have shown that the loads which on. narrow tires sink to the axles can be drawn ..."

2. The Iliad of Homer by Homer, John Graham Cordery (1871)
"520 The way is narrow here ; soon mightst thou pass In broader space ; rein back, lest on my car Thou clash, and with the encounter wreck us both. ..."

3. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"Puncher machines are especially well adapted to narrow work, that is the driving of entries or narrow rooms. Puncher machines for undercutting are mounted ..."

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