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Brow vs Brim - What's the difference?

brow | brim | Synonyms |

Brow is a synonym of brim.


As nouns the difference between brow and brim

is that brow is the ridge over the eyes; the eyebrow () while brim is (obsolete) the sea; ocean; water; flood or brim can be an edge or border (originally specifically of the sea or a body of water).

As verbs the difference between brow and brim

is that brow is to bound or limit; to be at, or form, the edge of while brim is to be full to overflowing or brim can be of pigs: to be in heat, to rut.

As an adjective brim is

(obsolete) fierce; sharp; cold.

brow

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The ridge over the eyes; the eyebrow ().
  • * Churchill
    • And his arched brow , pulled o'er his eyes, / With solemn proof proclaims him wise.
  • The first tine of an antler's beam.
  • The forehead ().
  • * Shakespeare
    • Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow .
  • * {{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=5 citation , passage=Mr. Banks’ panama hat was in one hand, while the other drew a handkerchief across his perspiring brow .}}
  • The projecting upper edge of a steep place such as a hill.
    • the brow of a precipice
  • (nautical) The gangway from ship to shore when a ship is lying alongside a quay.
  • (nautical) The hinged part of a landing craft or ferry which is lowered to form a landing platform; a ramp.
  • An eyebrow.
  • * Shakespeare
    • 'Tis not your inky brows , your black silk hair.

    Derived terms

    * beetle-browed * eyebrow

    Synonyms

    * forehead

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To bound or limit; to be at, or form, the edge of.
  • * Milton
    • Tending my flocks hard by i' the hilly crofts / That brow this bottom glade.

    brim

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) brim, brym, .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) The sea; ocean; water; flood.
    • Derived terms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) brim, brem, .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An edge or border (originally specifically of the sea or a body of water).
  • * Bible, Josh. iii. 15
    • The feet of the priest that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water.
  • The topmost rim or lip of a container.
    • The toy box was filled to the brim with stuffed animals.
  • * Coleridge:
    • Saw I that insect on this goblet's brim / I would remove it with an anxious pity.
  • A projecting rim, especially of a hat.
    • He turned the back of his brim up stylishly.
    (Wordsworth)
    Derived terms
    * to the brim

    Verb

    (brimm)
  • To be full to overflowing.
    • The room brimmed with people.
  • * 2006 New York Times
    • It was a hint of life in a place that still brims with memories of death, a reminder that even five years later, the attacks are not so very distant.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
    • , date=July 3 , author=Piers Newbury , title=Wimbledon 2011: Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal in final , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Djokovic, brimming with energy and confidence, needed little encouragement and came haring in to chase down a drop shot in the next game, angling away the backhand to break before turning to his supporters to celebrate. }}
  • To fill to the brim, upper edge, or top.
  • * Tennyson:
    • Arrange the board and brim the glass.

    Etymology 3

    Either from (breme), or directly from (etyl) (though not attested in Middle English).

    Verb

    (brimm)
  • Of pigs: to be in heat, to rut.

    • Etymology 4

    See (breme).

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Fierce; sharp; cold.

    • Anagrams

    * * ----