Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To look angry or sullen; to frown or wrinkle one's brow, often as a sign of disapproval or displeasure.
   • (Of the sky or weather) To appear dark, gloomy, or threatening.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To make something lower or quieter; to reduce in intensity, volume, or level.
   • To set something to a lower position or value.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (intransitive):

  • The manager began to lour when he saw the incomplete report. (He frowned or looked sullen.)
  • Dark clouds lour over the mountains, promising a storm. (The sky looks dark and threatening.)

• Verb (transitive):

  • Please lour the music; it's too loud for conversation. (Reduce the volume.)
  • The company had to lour its profit forecasts for the quarter. (Lower its expectations.)

Advanced Usage

• "to lour at/upon someone": To scowl or glare at someone.
  • She loured at the noisy customer until he quieted down.
• "to lour over": (Of something ominous) To hang over threateningly.
  • A sense of dread loured over the village.

Variants and Related Words

• Lower (verb): The more common spelling for the transitive meanings (to make something less high, loud, or intense). "Lour" is often considered a variant spelling for these meanings, though "lower" is standard.
• Glower (verb): A close synonym for the intransitive meaning of looking angry or sullen. It implies a fierce, angry stare.
• Frown (verb): A more common synonym for the facial expression of displeasure.

Synonyms

• For "look sullen": Glower, scowl, frown, glare.
• For "appear dark/threatening": Darken, loom, threaten.
• For "make lower": Reduce, decrease, diminish, quiet, turn down.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Lour" itself is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The more common verb "lower" is used instead.) - Lower away: A nautical command to lower something, like a boat. - Lower oneself: To behave in a way that is beneath one's dignity. * He wouldn't lower himself to argue with them.

Related Idioms

• Look like thunder: An idiom similar to the intransitive "lour," meaning to look very angry.
  • When he heard the news, he looked like thunder.
• Lower the boom: To punish someone severely or to put a stop to something forcefully.
  • The principal finally lowered the boom on the bullies.

Verb

1. look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
2. make lower or quieter
   • turn down the volume of a radio
3. set lower
   • lower a rating
   • lower expectations