LOW-LEVEL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does low-level mean? 

• LOW-LEVEL (adjective)
  The adjective LOW-LEVEL has 4 senses:

1. not intense

2. lower in rank or importance

3. at a low level in rank or importance

4. occurring at a relatively low altitude

  Familiarity information: LOW-LEVEL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LOW-LEVEL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not intense

Context example:

low-level radiation

Similar:

low (less than normal in degree or intensity or amount)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lower in rank or importance

Synonyms:

low-level; subordinate

Similar:

adjunct; assistant (of or relating to a person who is subordinate to another)

associate (having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status)

secondary (belonging to a lower class or rank)

under (lower in rank, power, or authority)

Also:

subordinate (subject or submissive to authority or the control of another)

inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)

Attribute:

position; status (the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society)

Sense 3

Meaning:

At a low level in rank or importance

Context example:

low-level discussions

Similar:

inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Occurring at a relatively low altitude

Synonyms:

low-altitude; low-level

Context example:

a low-level strafing run

Similar:

low (literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension)

 Context examples 

It kills cancer cells by giving off low-level radiation.

(Bone-seeking radioisotope, NCI Dictionary)

The presence of low-level antibiotics in the environment can have significant impacts on the gut microbiomes of animals and humans, said Robert Fleischmann, a program director in NSF's Division of Biological Infrastructure.

(Impacts of low-dose exposure to antibiotics unveiled in zebrafish gut, National Science Foundation)

The use of a low-level laser beam instead of an acupuncture needle to stimulate an acupuncture point.

(Laser acupuncture, NCI Dictionary)

The low-level software which handles the interface to peripheral hardware, schedules tasks, allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the user when no application program is running.

(Operating System, NCI Thesaurus)

This work has shown that sound processing in the auditory cortex happens in stages, beginning with the analysis of low-level features, such as loudness and pitch.

(Understanding how the brain makes sense of sound, National Science Foundation)

Scientists believe that several factors may interact to contribute to nocturnal storm formation and maintenance: a stable layer of air at the surface; a strong wind current above that layer, known as a low-level jet; and atmospheric waves, some of which are called bores, that ripple out from the storms themselves.

(Scientists tackle mystery of thunderstorms that strike at night, NSF)

“In really dim light, our cones don't receive enough photons to work, but they continue to emit a low-level baseline signal to the rest of the retina that is independent of light,” Meister says.

(New color vision pathway unveiled, NIH)