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   Nar·row

   /ˈnerō/

   

   adjective

   • 1. (especially of something that is considerably longer or higher than it is wide) of small width: "he made his way down the narrow road" Similar smalltaperedtaperingnarrowingnarrow-gaugedarchaic:straitslenderslimleanslightspareattenuatedthinrare:attenuateconfinedcrampedtightcloserestrictedlimitedconstrictedconfiningpinchedsqueezedmeagerscantscantysparerare:incommodiousexiguousincapaciousOpposite widebroadbroadspacious
   • 2. limited in extent, amount, or scope; restricted: "his ability to get good results within narrow constraints of money and manpower" Similar limitedrestrictedcircumscribedstraitenedsmallinadequateinsufficientdeficientlackingwantingselectexclusiveOpposite widebroad
   • ▪ (of a person's attitude or beliefs) limited in range and lacking willingness or ability to appreciate alternative views: "companies fail through their narrow view of what contributes to profit" Similar narrow-mindedintolerantilliberalreactionaryconservativeultra-conservativeconventionalparochialprovincialinsularsmall-townlocalistsmall-mindedpetty-mindedpettyclose-mindedshort-sightedmyopicblinkeredinward-lookinghidebounddyed-in-the-wooldiehardlimitedrestrictedinflexibledogmaticrigidentrenchedprejudicedbigotedbiasedpartisansectariandiscriminatoryprudishpriggishstrait-lacedstuffypuritanicalmoralisticprimstarchyprissyshockableracistracialistchauvinisticchauvinistsexistnationalisticparish-pumpblimpishbornéinformal:jerkwaterrare:claustralOpposite broad-mindedtolerant
   • ▪ precise or strict in meaning: "a narrow definition of family can neglect the experiences of many people" Similar strictliteralexactpreciseclosefaithfultrue
   • ▪ (of a phonetic transcription) showing fine details of accent.
   • 3. denoting or relating to a contest that is won or lost by only a very small margin: "the home team just hung on for a narrow victory" Similar marginallucky
   • 4. denoting a vowel pronounced with the root of the tongue drawn back so as to narrow the pharynx.

   verb

   • 1. become or make less wide: "the road narrowed and crossed an old bridge"
   • ▪ almost close (one's eyes) so as to focus on something or someone, or to indicate anger, suspicion, or other emotion: "she narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously"
   • 2. become or make more limited or restricted in extent or scope: "their trade surplus narrowed to $70 million in January"

   noun

   • 1. a narrow channel connecting two larger areas of water: "a basaltic fang rising from the narrows of the Upper Missouri"

   Word Origin Old Englishnearu, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch naar ‘dismal, unpleasant’ and German Narbe ‘scar’. Early senses in English included ‘constricted’ and ‘mean’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. narrowish adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • N

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • R

     1

   • O

     1

   • W

     4

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