verb (used without object)
- to contract the brow, as in displeasure or deep thought; scowl.
- to look displeased; have an angry look.
- to view with disapproval; look disapprovingly (usually followed by on or upon): to frown upon a scheme.
verb (used with object)
- to express by a frown: to frown one’s displeasure.
- to force or shame with a disapproving frown: to frown someone into silence.
noun
- a frowning look; scowl.
- any expression or show of disapproval: a tax bill that received Congressional frowns.
verb
- (intr) to draw the brows together and wrinkle the forehead, esp in worry, anger, or concentration
- (intr; foll by on or upon) to have a dislike (of); look disapprovingly (upon)the club frowned upon political activity by its members
- (tr) to express (worry, etc) by frowning
- (tr often foll by down) to force, silence, etc, by a frowning look
noun
- the act of frowning
- a show of dislike or displeasure
v.late 14c., from Old French frognier “to frown or scowl, snort, turn one’s nose up,” related to froigne “scowling look,” probably from Gaulish *frogna “nostril” (cf. Welsh ffroen “nose”), with a sense of “snort,” or perhaps “haughty grimace.” Related: Frowned; frowning. n.1580s, from frown (v.).