frown

• IPA^(key): /fɹaʊn/

• Audio (GA)

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  Rhymes: -aʊn

From Middle English frown, froun (“a threatening appearance; lowering of the clouds”), from frounen (“to frown”). See below.

frown (plural frowns)

1. A facial expression in which the eyebrows are brought together, and the forehead is wrinkled, usually indicating displeasure, sadness or worry, or less often confusion or concentration.
   • 1873, Charles Darwin, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals‎, page 223:

     He encounters some obstacle in his train of reasoning ... and then a frown passes like a shadow over his brow.

2. A facial expression in which the corners of the mouth are pointed down.
   • 1911 December 1, “Facial Expression Electric Sign”, in Popular Electricity‎, volume iv, number 8, Chicago, page 714:

     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.

• permafrown

From Middle English frounen (“to frown as an expression of disapproval, displeasure, shame, fear, or jealousy”), from Old French frognier (“to frown or scowl”), from Gaulish *frognā (“nostril”), from Proto-Celtic *srognā.

frown (third-person singular simple present frowns, present participle frowning, simple past and past participle frowned)

1. (intransitive) To have a frown on one's face.

   She frowned when I told her the news.

2. (intransitive, figuratively) To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavour or threateningly.

   Noisy gossip in the library is frowned upon.

   • Shakespeare

     The sky doth frown and lower upon our army.

3. (transitive) To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look.

   Let us frown the impudent fellow into silence.

4. (transitive) To communicate by frowning.

   Frank frowned his displeasure with my proposal.

   • 2017 June 26, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in the Guardian‎:

     As the band paused between songs, a gust of wind blew a distinctive Worthy Farm odour in the direction of drummer/vocalist Julien Ehrich: “Wow,” he frowned, “this place smells of cow shit.”

• frown at
• frown on
• frown upon

frown

1. Soft mutation of brown.