frown means A wrinkling of the forehead with the eyebrows brought together, typically indicating displeasure, severity, or concentration. Lexicurio rates it Distinctive — a strength score of 65 out of 100.
frown is pronounced /ˈfɹaʊ̯n/.
Etymology
From Middle English frown, froun (“a threatening appearance; lowering of the clouds”), from frounen (“to frown”). See below.
noun
- 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”
- A downturn of the corners of the mouth, typically expressing sadness.“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.”
- Any facial expression that indicates disapproval or displeasure.
verb
- To have a frown on one's face.“She frowned when I told her the news.”
- To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavour or threateningly.“Noisy gossip in the library is frowned upon.”
- To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look.“Let us frown the impudent fellow into silence.”
- To communicate by frowning.“Frank frowned his displeasure with my proposal.”