adjective, verb
adjective (narrower, narrowest)
1 measuring a short distance from one side to the other, especially in relation to length:
narrow streets * a narrow bed / doorway / shelf * narrow shoulders / hips * There was only a narrow gap between the bed and the wall. * (figurative) the narrow confines of prison life * The road soon became narrower and steeper.
OPPBROAD, WIDE
2 [usuallybeforenoun] only just achieved or avoided:
a narrow victory * He lost the race by the narrowest of margins. * She was elected by a narrow majority. * He had a narrow escape when his car skidded on the ice.
3 limited in a way that ignores important issues or the opinions of other people:
narrow interests * She has a very narrow view of the world.
OPPBROAD
4 limited in variety or numbers
SYNRESTRICTED:
The shop sells only a narrow range of goods. * a narrow circle of friends
OPPWIDE
5 limited in meaning; exact:
I am using the word 'education' in the narrower sense.
OPPBROAD
narrowness noun [U]:
The narrowness of the streets caused many traffic problems. * We were surprised by the narrowness of our victory. * His attitudes show a certain narrowness of mind.
IDIOMS see STRAIGHTn.
verb to become or make sth narrower: [V] This is where the river narrows. * The gap between the two teams has narrowed to three points. * Her eyes narrowed (= almost closed) menacingly. * His eyes narrowed to slits. * [VN] He narrowed his eyes at her. * We need to narrow the health divide between rich and poor.
PHRASALVERBS
narrow sth<->down (to sth) to reduce the number of possibilities or choices:
We have narrowed down the list to four candidates.
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WHICHWORD?
narrow / thin
These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:
narrow ~ thin ~
road man
entrance legs
bed ice
stairs line
majority layer
victory material
range cream
Narrow describes something that is a short distance from side to side. Thin describes people, or something that has a short distance through it from one side to the other.
Thin is also used of things that are not as thick as you expect. Narrow can be used with the meanings 'only just achieved' and 'limited'.
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