narrowing

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
narrow/ˈnarəʊ/

▶adjective (narrower, narrowest)

• 1 of small width in comparison to length.

• 2 limited in extent, amount, or scope.

• 3 barely achieved: a narrow escape.

• 4 Phonetics denoting a vowel pronounced with the root of the tongue drawn back so as to narrow the pharynx.

▶verb become or make narrower.

■ (narrow something down) reduce the number of possibilities or options.

▶noun (narrows) a narrow channel connecting two larger areas of water.

– phrases
narrow circumstances poverty.
a narrow squeak Brit. informal an escape or victory that is narrowly achieved.

– derivatives
narrowish adjective,
narrowly adverb,
narrowness noun.

– origin OE nearu, of Gmc origin.