I have noticed the word "lower" has to distinct pronunciations.
My question is whether such distinct pronunciations are related to distintic meanings of the word lower.
For example, when the word "lower" stands for the comparative of "low" is its pronunciation always the same (\ˈlō-ər\)?
And what about the noun "lower" is it true that the pronunciations of "lower" and "lour" match exactly the same?
I have noticed the word "lower" has to distinct pronunciations.
My question is whether such distinct pronunciations are related to distintic meanings of the word lower.
For example, when the word "lower" stands for the comparative of "low" is its pronunciation always the same (\ˈlō-ər\)?
And what about the noun "lower" is it true that the pronunciations of "lower" and "lour" match exactly the same?
'Lower' sounds the same irrespective of the meaning. What is 'lour'?
'lower' contains a triphthong in AusE. / lɔʊə/ or / ləʊə/
or /ləʊwə/
Other triphthongs are: /aɪə/ /faɪə/ fire /eɪə/ /fleɪə/ flayer /ɔɪə/ /fɔɪə/ foyer /aʊə/ /flaʊə/ flower It's probably more common to insert a /w/ in flower /flaʊwə/ and also in lower, and often a /j/ in the others
I have noticed the word "lower" has to distinct pronunciations.
My question is whether such distinct pronunciations are related to distintic meanings of the word lower.
For example, when the word "lower" stands for the comparative of "low" is its pronunciation always the same (\ˈlō-ər\)?
And what about the noun "lower" is it true that the pronunciations of "lower" and "lour" match exactly the same?
According to Longman Pronunciation Coach Dictionary
lower adjective, comp of low ˈləʊ ə ǁ ˈloʊ ə r ˌ lower ˈ case ◂ ˌ lower ˈ class ◂ ˌ Lower East ˈ Side ˌ Lower ˈ House
lower verb ‘bring down’ ˈləʊ ə ǁ ˈloʊ ə r lower|ed d lowering ˈləʊ ər ɪŋ ǁ ˈloʊ ə r ɪŋ lower|s z
lower adjective, comp of low ˈləʊ ə ǁ ˈloʊ ə r ˌ lower ˈ case ◂ ˌ lower ˈ class ◂ ˌ Lower East ˈ Side ˌ Lower ˈ House
lour ˈla ʊ ‿ə ǁ ˈlaʊ‿ ə r lour|ed d louring ˈla ʊ ‿ər ɪŋ ǁ ˈlaʊ‿ ə r ɪŋ lour|s z
'Lour' is an extremely obscure word (I don't think I've ever used it) meaning something like 'look at (in a menacing way)'. For the purposes of ELT, the word scarcely exists.
PS - An afterthought about 'lour'. Although I gave the meaning 'look at in a menacing way', it's probably used more often in a figurative sense - a dark/heavy cloud can be called 'louring'.
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lower and lour pronunciation 
'Lour' is an extremely obscure word (I don't think I've ever used it) meaning something like 'look at (in a menacing way)'. For the purposes of ELT, the word scarcely exists.
Linear Mode
