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Lower vs Detract - What's the difference?

lower | detract | Related terms |

In transitive terms the difference between lower and detract

is that lower is to reduce (something) in value, amount, etc while detract is to take credit or reputation from; to defame or decry.

In intransitive terms the difference between lower and detract

is that lower is to decrease in value, amount, etc while detract is to take away; to withdraw or remove.

As an adjective lower

is comparative of low.

As an adverb lower

is comparative of low POS=adverb.

lower

English

Etymology 1

From (low) +

Adjective

(head)
  • (low)
  • bottom; more towards the bottom than the middle of an object
  • (geology, of strata or geological time periods) older
  • Antonyms
    * (more low) higher * (bottom) upper * (older) upper

    Adverb

    (head)
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down
  • lower a bucket into a well
    to lower a sail of a boat
  • to pull down
  • to lower a flag
    Lowered softly with a threefold cord of love / Down to a silent grave. .
  • To reduce the height of
  • lower a fence or wall
    lower a chimney or turret
  • To depress as to direction
  • lower the aim of a gun
  • To make less elevated
  • to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes
  • To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of
  • lower the temperature
    lower one's vitality
    lower distilled liquors
  • To bring down; to humble
  • lower one's pride
  • (reflexive) (lower oneself ) To humble oneself; to do something one considers to be beneath one's dignity.
  • I could never lower myself enough to buy second-hand clothes.
  • To reduce (something) in value, amount, etc.
  • lower the price of goods
    lower the interest rate
  • To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease
  • The river lowered as rapidly as it rose.
  • To decrease in value, amount, etc.
  • Synonyms
    * bring down * shorten * * reduce * reduce, turn down * * be humble * cut, reduce * die off, drop, fall, fall off, shrink * become/get smaller, become/get lower, lessen, reduce

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • .
  • Statistics

    *

    detract

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To take away; to withdraw or remove.
  • *{{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=May 27 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992) , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=The Conan O’Brien-penned half-hour has the capacity to rip our collective hearts out the way the cute, funny bad girl next door does to Bart when she reveals that her new boyfriend is Jimbo Jones, but the show keeps shying away from genuine emotion in favor of jokes that, while overwhelmingly funny, detract from the poignancy and the emotional intimacy of the episode.}}
  • To take credit or reputation from; to defame or decry.
  • * Drayton
  • That calumnious critic / Detracting what laboriously we do.

    Synonyms

    * defame, decry * See also

    Derived terms

    * detraction * detractor