NARROWING

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does narrowing mean? 

• NARROWING (noun)
  The noun NARROWING has 3 senses:

1. an instance of becoming narrow

2. a decrease in width

3. the act of making something narrower

  Familiarity information: NARROWING used as a noun is uncommon.

• NARROWING (adjective)
  The adjective NARROWING has 2 senses:

1. becoming gradually narrower

2. (of circumstances) tending to constrict freedom

  Familiarity information: NARROWING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NARROWING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An instance of becoming narrow

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("narrowing" is a kind of...):

configuration; conformation; contour; form; shape (any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "narrowing"):

coarctation ((biology) a narrowing or constriction of a vessel or canal; especially a congenital narrowing of the aorta)

taper (the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone))

bottleneck; chokepoint; constriction (a narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel)

Derivation:

narrow (become tight or as if tight)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A decrease in width

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("narrowing" is a kind of...):

decrease; decrement (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)

Antonym:

widening (an increase in width)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of making something narrower

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("narrowing" is a kind of...):

change of shape (an action that changes the shape of something)

Antonym:

widening (the act of making something wider)

Derivation:

narrow (make or become more narrow or restricted)

• NARROWING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Becoming gradually narrower

Synonyms:

narrowing; tapered; tapering

Context example:

trousers with tapered legs

Similar:

narrow (not wide)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of circumstances) tending to constrict freedom

Synonyms:

constricting; constrictive; narrowing

Similar:

narrow (not wide)

 Context examples 

The cricopharyngeus muscle aids in swallowing by narrowing the lower part of the pharynx to move a bolus into the esophagus.

(Cricopharyngeus Muscle, NCI Thesaurus)

Narrowing of the lumen of the duodenum.

(Duodenal Stenosis, NCI Thesaurus)

Narrowing or stricture of the bladder neck.

(Bladder Neck Stenosis, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by a narrowing of the lumen of the duodenum.

(Duodenal Stenosis, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

Narrowing of the coronary arteries due to fatty deposits inside the arterial walls.

(Coronary Artery Disease, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

A congenital cardiovascular abnormality characterized by the narrowing of the lumen of the main pulmonary artery or its branches.

(Congenital Pulmonary Artery Stenosis, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by a narrowing of the lumen of the colon.

(Colonic Stenosis, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

Narrowing of the lumen of the ileum that is present at birth.

(Congenital Ileal Stenosis, NCI Thesaurus)

For less severe narrowing, a medicine to prevent blood clots can reduce your risk of stroke.

(Carotid Artery Disease, NIH)

Narrowing of the lumen of the jejunum that is present at birth.

(Congenital Jejunal Stenosis, NCI Thesaurus)