/ˈfɹaːn/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
/ˈfɹæʊ̯n/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
Etymology
From Middle English frown, froun (“a threatening appearance; lowering of the clouds”), from frounen (“to frown”). See below.
Meanings
A wrinkling of the forehead with the eyebrows brought together, typically indicating displeasure, severity, or concentration.
Philip had once told him of a man who had a horse-shoe frown, and Tom had tried with all his frowning-might to make a horse-shoe on his forehead 1860, George Eliot, “V: Maggie's Second Visit”, in The Mill on the Floss, Volume I Book II, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood, page 336‑337:
He encounters some obstacle in his train of reasoning ... and then a frown passes like a shadow over his brow. 1873, Charles Darwin, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, page 223:
(Canada, US) A downturn of the corners of the mouth, typically expressing sadness.
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. 1911 December 14, “Facial Expression Electric Sign”, in Popular Electricity, volume iv, number 8, Chicago, page 714:
Any facial expression that indicates disapproval or displeasure.
pl zmarszczenie brwi (wrinkling of the forehead) · sh мр̀гође̄ње (wrinkling of the forehead) · eo malrideto (wrinkling of the forehead) · it corruccio (wrinkling of the forehead) · nl frons (wrinkling of the forehead) · de Flunsch (downturn of the corners of the mouth) · es zuño (wrinkling of the forehead) · ka წარბის შეკვრა (wrinkling of the forehead) · vi cau mày (wrinkling of the forehead) · af frons (wrinkling of the forehead) · ar عُبُوس (wrinkling of the forehead) · de Hängenlassen der Mundwinkel (downturn of the corners of the mouth) · cy cadwch (wrinkling of the forehead) · cy blwng (wrinkling of the forehead) · de Stirnrunzeln (wrinkling of the forehead) · de finsterer Blick (wrinkling of the forehead) · it corrucciamento (wrinkling of the forehead) · es ceño (wrinkling of the forehead) · pt franzimento (wrinkling of the forehead) · de hängende Mundwinkel (downturn of the corners of the mouth) · is vanþóknunarsvipur (wrinkling of the forehead) · sh mr̀gođēnje (wrinkling of the forehead) · tr kaç çatma (wrinkling of the forehead) · fi otsan rypistys (wrinkling of the forehead) · cmn 皺眉 /皱眉 (wrinkling of the forehead) · hy խոժոռվածություն (wrinkling of the forehead) · fi kulmien kurtistus (wrinkling of the forehead) · vi chau mày (wrinkling of the forehead) · ru нахму́ренные бро́ви (wrinkling of the forehead) · cy cuwch (wrinkling of the forehead) · cy gwg (wrinkling of the forehead) · it accigliato (wrinkling of the forehead) · sh мр̀ште̄ње (wrinkling of the forehead) · fr froncement (wrinkling of the forehead) · ru хму́рый взгляд (wrinkling of the forehead) · is ygglibrún (wrinkling of the forehead) · is gretta (wrinkling of the forehead) · hu homlokráncolás (wrinkling of the forehead) · cmn 愁眉苦臉 /愁眉苦脸 (wrinkling of the forehead) · cy cilwg (wrinkling of the forehead) · es encapotadura (wrinkling of the forehead) · tl busangot (wrinkling of the forehead) · th ขมวดคิ้ว (wrinkling of the forehead) · bcl murusot (wrinkling of the forehead) · bg смръщване (wrinkling of the forehead) · ka მოღუშული გარეგნობა (wrinkling of the forehead) · fa اخم (wrinkling of the forehead) · mk мр́штење (wrinkling of the forehead) · tl simangot (wrinkling of the forehead) · ru насу́пленные бро́ви (wrinkling of the forehead) · it accigliamento (wrinkling of the forehead) · tl mungot (wrinkling of the forehead) · el συνοφρύωση (wrinkling of the forehead) · ar عُبُوسة (wrinkling of the forehead) · ro încruntare (wrinkling of the forehead) · mk смршту́вање (wrinkling of the forehead) · ga púic (wrinkling of the forehead) · sh mr̀štēnje (wrinkling of the forehead) · es encapotamiento (wrinkling of the forehead)
/ˈfɹaːn/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
/ˈfɹæʊ̯n/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand
Etymology
From Middle English frounen (“to frown as an expression of disapproval, displeasure, shame, fear, or jealousy”), from Old French froignier, froingnier, frognier (“to wrinkle the mouth or forehead, frown, scowl”), of uncertain and disputed origin. Perhaps from Medieval Latin fruncāre (“to wrinkle, crease, turn up one's nose, make a face, frown”) (compare Old High German fruncetura (“wrinkle”), via Latin), from Frankish *hrunkwittjā (“wrinkle”)/*hrunkwōn (“to wrinkle”), whence Old High German runza (“wrinkle”). See also French froncer (“to frown, scowl”).
Alternatively, perhaps from Gaulish *frognā (“nostril”), from Proto-Celtic *srognā (“nose”).
Still yet, perhaps of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish fryna (“to frown, frown with one's nose, make a wry face”), Norwegian frøyna (“to wrinkle up one's nose, make a wry face; snort”). Compare also dialectal English frine (“to frown, whine, complain”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To have a frown on one's face.
She frowned when I told her the news.
(figuratively, intransitive) To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavour or threateningly.
Noisy gossip in the library is frowned upon.
The sky doth frown and lower upon our army. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
(transitive) To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look.
Let us frown the impudent fellow into silence.
(transitive) To communicate by frowning.
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.” 2017 June 26, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in the Guardian:
Copling glanced at the heading and signature, then read the contents and frowned annoyance. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
cs zamračit se (to have a frown on one's face) · da rynke panden (to have a frown on one's face) · ro încrunta (to have a frown on one's face) · mk се дури (to have a frown on one's face) · bg чуме́ря се (to have a frown on one's face) · bcl murusot (to have a frown on one's face) · ru су́питься (to have a frown on one's face) · et kulmu kortsutama (to have a frown on one's face) · ko 눈살을 찌푸리다 (to have a frown on one's face) · ca arrufar les celles (to have a frown on one's face) · tr kaşlarını çatmak (to have a frown on one's face) · fi rypistää otsaansa (to have a frown on one's face) · sl mrščiti se (to have a frown on one's face) · sh мр̀штити се (to have a frown on one's face) · es torcer el gesto (to have a frown on one's face) · sk mračiť sa (to have a frown on one's face) · pt fazer cara feia (to have a frown on one's face) · ar عَقَدَ حَاجِبَيْهُ (to have a frown on one's face) · uk не схва́лювати (to look with disfavour or threateningly) · pl marszczyć brwi (to have a frown on one's face) · sh namŕštiti se (to have a frown on one's face) · cs mračit se (to have a frown on one's face) · ar عَبَسَ (to have a frown on one's face) · be нахму́рыцца (to have a frown on one's face) · hy հոնքերը կիտել (to have a frown on one's face) · ru нахму́риться (to have a frown on one's face) · hu ráncolja a homlokát (to have a frown on one's face) · mk се надури (to have a frown on one's face) · gl enfurruñar (to have a frown on one's face) · hy խոժոռվել (to have a frown on one's face) · st sosobana (to have a frown on one's face) · ru хму́риться (to have a frown on one's face) · fr froncer les sourcils (to have a frown on one's face) · be су́піцца (to have a frown on one's face) · be насу́плівацца (to have a frown on one's face) · mi kōruru te rae (to have a frown on one's face) · bg мръ́щя се (to have a frown on one's face) · mk се мурти (to have a frown on one's face) · it accigliarsi (to have a frown on one's face) · cmn 皺眉 /皱眉 (to have a frown on one's face) · fa اخم کردن (to have a frown on one's face) · it corrucciarsi (to have a frown on one's face) · pl zmarszczyć brwi (to have a frown on one's face) · grc σκυθρωπάζω (to have a frown on one's face) · nb skule (to look with disfavour or threateningly) · uk хму́ритися (to have a frown on one's face) · tg рӯй турш кардан (to have a frown on one's face) · nl fronsen (to have a frown on one's face) · sv rynka pannan (to have a frown on one's face) · mk се мр́шти (to have a frown on one's face) · cmn 顰 /颦 (to have a frown on one's face) · is yggla sig (to have a frown on one's face) · tl sumimangot (to have a frown on one's face) · nb rynke pannen (to have a frown on one's face) · sk zamračiť sa (to have a frown on one's face) · fa پیشانی ترش کردن (to have a frown on one's face) · es arrugar el ceño (to have a frown on one's face) · sh mr̀štiti se (to have a frown on one's face) · tg абрӯ чин кардан (to have a frown on one's face) · ko 찡그리다 (to have a frown on one's face) · is hnykla brýnnar (to have a frown on one's face) · es fruncir el ceño (to have a frown on one's face) · mk се намурти (to have a frown on one's face) · ru хму́рить бро́ви (to have a frown on one's face) · cmn 蹙額 /蹙额 (to have a frown on one's face) · be насу́піцца (to have a frown on one's face) · ca arrufar el nas (to look with disfavour or threateningly) · yue 扁嘴 (to have a frown on one's face) · pt franzir o cenho (to have a frown on one's face) · hu ráncolja a szemöldökét (to have a frown on one's face) · it imbronciarsi (to have a frown on one's face) · uk насу́питися (to have a frown on one's face) · sh намр́штити се (to have a frown on one's face) · yue 皺眉頭 /皱眉头 (to have a frown on one's face) · it imbronciare (to have a frown on one's face) · et kulme kortsutama (to have a frown on one's face) · be хму́рыцца (to have a frown on one's face) · uk су́питися (to have a frown on one's face) · es encapotarse (to have a frown on one's face) · el συνοφρυώνομαι (to have a frown on one's face) · ja 顔を顰める (to have a frown on one's face) · af frons (to have a frown on one's face) · de die Stirn runzeln (to have a frown on one's face) · is hleypa brúnum (to have a frown on one's face) · ru насу́пливаться (to have a frown on one's face) · cmn 蹙眉 (to have a frown on one's face) · gl enfociñar (to have a frown on one's face) · it risentirsi (to have a frown on one's face) · fi kurtistaa kulmiaan (to have a frown on one's face) · ru насу́питься (to have a frown on one's face) · es poner gesto (to have a frown on one's face) · uk насу́плюватися (to have a frown on one's face) · it immusonirsi (to have a frown on one's face) · sl namrščiti se (to have a frown on one's face) · uk нахму́ритися (to have a frown on one's face) · da skule (to look with disfavour or threateningly) · ru нахму́рить бро́ви (to have a frown on one's face)