narrow
♦♦ nar|row /n'æroʊ/ (narrower narrowest narrows narrowing narrowed)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is narrow measures a very small distance from one side to the other, especially compared to its length or height.
...through the town's narrow streets...
She had long, narrow feet.
...the narrow strip of land joining the peninsula to the rest of the island.
≠ wide
● narrowness [N-UNCOUNT] usu N of n
...the narrowness of the river mouth.
2 [VERB] V
If something narrows, it becomes less wide.
The wide track narrows before crossing another stream.
3 [VERB] V, V n
If your eyes narrow or if you narrow your eyes, you almost close them, for example because you are angry or because you are trying to concentrate on something. (WRITTEN)
Coggins' eyes narrowed angrily. `You think I'd tell you?'...
He paused and narrowed his eyes in concentration.
≠ widen
4 [ADJ]
If you describe someone's ideas, attitudes, or beliefs as narrow, you disapprove of them because they are restricted in some way, and often ignore the more important aspects of an argument or situation.
...a narrow and outdated view of family life...
= limited
≠ broad
● narrowly [ADV] ADV after v, ADV -ed/adj
They're making judgments based on a narrowly focused vision of the world.
● narrowness [N-UNCOUNT] usu N of n
...the narrowness of their mental and spiritual outlook.
5 [VERB] V, V n
If something narrows or if you narrow it, its extent or range becomes smaller.
Most recent opinion polls suggest that the gap between the two main parties has narrowed...
Senate negotiators further narrowed their differences over the level of federal spending for anti-drug programs.
≠ widen
● narrowing [N-SING]
...a narrowing of the gap between rich members and poor.
6 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you have a narrow victory, you succeed in winning but only by a small amount.
Delegates have voted by a narrow majority in favour of considering electoral reform.
● narrowly [ADV]
She narrowly failed to win enough votes...
● narrowness [N-UNCOUNT] usu N of n
The narrowness of the government's victory reflected deep division within the Party.
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you have a narrow escape, something unpleasant nearly happens to you.
Two police officers had a narrow escape when separatists attacked their vehicles.
● narrowly [ADV] ADV with v
Five firemen narrowly escaped death when a staircase collapsed beneath their feet.
8
on the straight and narrow: see straightnar|row boat (narrow boats)
also narrowboat
[N-COUNT]
A narrow boat is a long, low boat used on canals. (BRIT)
= bargenarrow down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P to n, also V n P
If you narrow down a range of things, you reduce the number of things included in it.
What's happened is that the new results narrow down the possibilities...
I've managed to narrow the list down to twenty-three.
1 [ADJ]
Something that is narrow measures a very small distance from one side to the other, especially compared to its length or height.
...through the town's narrow streets...
She had long, narrow feet.
...the narrow strip of land joining the peninsula to the rest of the island.
≠ wide
● narrowness [N-UNCOUNT] usu N of n
...the narrowness of the river mouth.
2 [VERB] V
If something narrows, it becomes less wide.
The wide track narrows before crossing another stream.
3 [VERB] V, V n
If your eyes narrow or if you narrow your eyes, you almost close them, for example because you are angry or because you are trying to concentrate on something. (WRITTEN)
Coggins' eyes narrowed angrily. `You think I'd tell you?'...
He paused and narrowed his eyes in concentration.
≠ widen
4 [ADJ]
If you describe someone's ideas, attitudes, or beliefs as narrow, you disapprove of them because they are restricted in some way, and often ignore the more important aspects of an argument or situation.
...a narrow and outdated view of family life...
= limited
≠ broad
● narrowly [ADV] ADV after v, ADV -ed/adj
They're making judgments based on a narrowly focused vision of the world.
● narrowness [N-UNCOUNT] usu N of n
...the narrowness of their mental and spiritual outlook.
5 [VERB] V, V n
If something narrows or if you narrow it, its extent or range becomes smaller.
Most recent opinion polls suggest that the gap between the two main parties has narrowed...
Senate negotiators further narrowed their differences over the level of federal spending for anti-drug programs.
≠ widen
● narrowing [N-SING]
...a narrowing of the gap between rich members and poor.
6 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you have a narrow victory, you succeed in winning but only by a small amount.
Delegates have voted by a narrow majority in favour of considering electoral reform.
● narrowly [ADV]
She narrowly failed to win enough votes...
● narrowness [N-UNCOUNT] usu N of n
The narrowness of the government's victory reflected deep division within the Party.
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you have a narrow escape, something unpleasant nearly happens to you.
Two police officers had a narrow escape when separatists attacked their vehicles.
● narrowly [ADV] ADV with v
Five firemen narrowly escaped death when a staircase collapsed beneath their feet.
8
on the straight and narrow: see straightnar|row boat (narrow boats)
also narrowboat
[N-COUNT]
A narrow boat is a long, low boat used on canals. (BRIT)
= bargenarrow down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P to n, also V n P
If you narrow down a range of things, you reduce the number of things included in it.
What's happened is that the new results narrow down the possibilities...
I've managed to narrow the list down to twenty-three.