verb, bent or (Archaic
) bend⋅ed; bend⋅ing, noun | 1. | to force (an object, esp. a long or thin one) from a straight form into a curved or angular one, or from a curved or angular form into some different form: to bend an iron rod into a hoop. |
| 2. | to direct or turn in a particular direction: to bend one's energies to the task. |
| 3. | to cause to submit or yield: to bend someone to one's will. |
| 4. | to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances: to bend the rules. |
| 5. | to incline mentally (usually fol. by to or toward): bending his thoughts back toward his childhood. |
| 6. | to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting. |
| 7. | Nautical. to fasten. |
| 8. | Archaic. to strain or brace tensely (often fol. by up). |
| 9. | to become curved, crooked, or bent: a bow that bends easily. |
| 10. | to assume a bent posture; stoop (often fol. by over): to bend as one walks; to bend over and pick up something. |
| 11. | to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed: The road bent toward the south. |
| 12. | to yield or submit; give in. |
| 13. | to bow in submission or reverence: bending to one's monarch. |
| 14. | to direct one's energies: We bent to our work as the bell sounded. |
| 15. | the act of bending. |
| 16. | something that bends; curve; crook: a bend in the road; a bend in the curtain rod. |
| 17. | Nautical. any of various loops or knots for joining the ends of two ropes or the like, or for joining the end of a rope or the like to some other object. |
| 18. | bends, Nautical.
|
| 19. | the bends, aeroembolism (def. 2). |
| 20. | around or round the bend, Slang. insane; crazy: These interruptions will send me round the bend! |
| 21. | bend or lean or fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort: They bent over backward to make sure their guests were comfortable. |

| 1. | Heraldry.
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| 2. | Tanning. half of a trimmed butt or hide. |
bend 1 (běnd) v. bent (běnt), bend·ing, bends v. tr.
[Middle English benden, from Old English bendan; see bhendh- in Indo-European roots.] Synonyms: These verbs mean to swerve or cause to swerve from a straight line: bent his knees and knelt; crooked an arm around the package; claws that curve under; rounding the lips to articulate an "o" |
bend (běnd)
v. bent (běnt), bend·ing, bends
To incline the body; stoop.
bend
In addition to the idioms beginning with bend, also see around the bend; crook (bend) one's elbow; on bended knee. Also see under bent.
Bend
city, seat (1916) of Deschutes county, central Oregon, U.S. It lies along the Deschutes River, in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range (west), and is bordered by Pilot Butte (east). Laid out in 1904, the community grew after the Deschutes Irrigation and Power Company opened farmland for settlement in 1909. Vast timber resources influenced a railroad boom (1911), sawmills were built, and wood industries developed. Bend is now the headquarters for the Deschutes National Forest and is a centre for tourism because of its proximity to lakes, lava beds, caves, and mountain and ski resorts. Central Oregon Community College was established there in 1949. Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which includes the 6,200-foot- (1,890-metre-) long Lava River Cave, is 12.5 miles (20 km) south of the city. Inc. 1904. Pop. (1990) 20,469; (2000) 52,029.
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