narrowing

narrowing

1. present participle and gerund of narrow

narrowing (plural narrowings)

1. The process of becoming narrow.

   narrowings of the road

   • 1949 November and December, “Notes and News: The High Level Bridge, Newcastle: Strengthening and Repairs”, in Railway Magazine, page 407:

     Owing to the war, it was not thought advisable to carry out repairs to this pier, as this would have involved the temporary narrowing of the channel, and it was not until 1919 that it was decided to proceed with the construction of a steel-pile coffer dam round the south pier.

2. The part of a stocking that is narrowed.
   • 1858, Margaret Maria Gordon, Household economy, page 60:

     It may be observed, as a general rule, that the length of a stocking, before the narrowings, should be, at the least, equal to twice the width of the top...

• narrowing conversion