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bend - 13 dictionary results
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bend

1  [bend] verb, bent or (Archaic) bend⋅ed; bend⋅ing, noun
Use bend in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
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).
–verb (used without object)
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.
–noun
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.
a. thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
b. the wales of a vessel.
19. the bends, aeroembolism (def. 2).
—Idioms
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.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME benden (v.) OE bendan to bind, bend (a bow); c. MHG benden, ON benda; akin to ON band band. See band 3

Related forms:
bend⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
1. curve, crook, flex, bow. 3. mold, subdue, influence. 10. Bend, bow, stoop imply taking a bent posture. Bend and bow are used of the head and upper body; stoop is used of the body only.

bend

2  [bend]
–noun
1. Heraldry.
a. a diagonal band extending from the dexter chief of an escutcheon to the sinister base. Compare bend sinister.
b. in bend, (of a charge) set diagonally or in a diagonal row.
2. Tanning. half of a trimmed butt or hide.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME: coalescence of OE bend band (see band 3 ) and MF bende band 2

Bend

  [bend]
–noun
a city in central Oregon. 17,263.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bend
bend 1   (běnd)   
v.   bent (běnt), bend·ing, bends

v.   tr.
  1. To bring (something) into a state of tension: bend a bow.
    1. To cause to assume a curved or angular shape: bend a piece of iron into a horseshoe.
    2. To force to assume a different direction or shape, according to one's own purpose: "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events" (Robert F. Kennedy).
    3. To misrepresent; distort: bend the truth.
    4. To relax or make an exception to: bend a rule to allow more members into the club.
  3. To cause to swerve from a straight line; deflect.
  4. To render submissive; subdue.
  5. To apply (the mind) closely: "The weary naval officer goes to bed at night having bent his brain all day to a scheme of victory" (Jack Beatty).
  6. Nautical To fasten: bend a mainsail onto the boom.
v.   intr.
    1. To deviate from a straight line or position: The lane bends to the right at the bridge.
    2. To assume a curved, crooked, or angular form or direction: The saplings bent in the wind.
  2. To incline the body; stoop.
  3. To make a concession; yield.
  4. To apply oneself closely; concentrate: She bent to her task.
n.  
    1. The act or fact of bending.
    2. The state of being bent.
  2. Something bent: a bend in the road.
  3. bends Nautical The thick planks in a ship's side; wales.
  4. bends (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Decompression sickness. Used with the.

[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"
Antonym: straighten
bend 2   (běnd)   
n.  
  1. Heraldry A band passing from the upper dexter corner of an escutcheon to the lower sinister corner.
  2. Nautical A knot that joins a rope to a rope or another object.

[Middle English, from Old English bend, band, and from Old French bende, bande, band (of Germanic origin; see bhendh- in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Bend

Bend\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bended or Bent; p. pr. & vb. n. Bending.] [AS. bendan to bend, fr. bend a band, bond, fr. bindan to bind. See Bind, v. t., and cf. 3d & 4th Bend.]

1. To strain or move out of a straight line; to crook by straining; to make crooked; to curve; to make ready for use by drawing into a curve; as, to bend a bow; to bend the knee.

2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline. "Bend thine ear to supplication." --Milton.

Towards Coventry bend we our course. --Shak.

Bending her eyes . . . upon her parent. --Sir W. Scott.

3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct.

To bend his mind to any public business. --Temple.

But when to mischief mortals bend their will. --Pope.

4. To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue. "Except she bend her humor." --Shak.

5. (Naut.) To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to its yard or stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor. --Totten.

To bend the brow, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or in anger; to scowl; to frown. --Camden.

Syn: To lean; stoop; deflect; bow; yield.

Bend

Bend\, v. i. 1. To be moved or strained out of a straight line; to crook or be curving; to bow.

The green earth's end Where the bowed welkin slow doth bend. --Milton.

2. To jut over; to overhang.

There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confined deep. --Shak.

3. To be inclined; to be directed.

To whom our vows and wished bend. --Milton.

4. To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.

While each to his great Father bends. --Coleridge.

Bend

Bend\, n. [See Bend, v. t., and cf. Bent, n.]

1. A turn or deflection from a straight line or from the proper direction or normal position; a curve; a crook; as, a slight bend of the body; a bend in a road.

2. Turn; purpose; inclination; ends. [Obs.]

Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend. --Fletcher.

3. (Naut.) A knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to an anchor, spar, or post. --Totten.

4. (Leather Trade) The best quality of sole leather; a butt. See Butt.

5. (Mining) Hard, indurated clay; bind.

6. pl. (Med.) same as caisson disease. Usually referred to as the bends.

Bends of a ship, the thickest and strongest planks in her sides, more generally called wales. They have the beams, knees, and foothooks bolted to them. Also, the frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides; as, the midship bend.

Bend

Bend\, n. [AS. bend. See Band, and cf. the preceding noun.]

1. A band. [Obs.] --Spenser.

2. [OF. bende, bande, F. bande. See Band.] (Her.) One of the honorable ordinaries, containing a third or a fifth part of the field. It crosses the field diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base.

Bend sinister (Her.), an honorable ordinary drawn from the sinister chief to the dexter base.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : bend
Spanish: doblar(se), curvar,
German: beugen, biegen,
Japanese: 曲げる
More Translations »

bend 
O.E. bendan "to confine with a string," causative of bindan "to bind," from P.Gmc. base *band- "string, band" (cf. O.N. benda "to join, strain, strive, bend"), from PIE base *bhendh- (cf. Goth. bindan, O.H.G. bintan, Skt. badhnati "binds," Lith. bendras "partner;" O.Pers. bandaka- "subject"). Modern sense (c.1320) is via notion of bending a bow to string it. Cognate with band, bind, and bond). The noun meaning "thing of bent shape" is from c.1600. The bends "decompression pain" first attested 1894. Bender "drinking bout" is U.S. slang, first attested 1846.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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bend (běnd)
v. bent (běnt), bend·ing, bends
To incline the body; stoop.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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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.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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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.

Learn more about Bend with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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