to bend the knee or body or incline the head, as in reverence, submission, salutation, recognition, or acknowledgment.
2.
to yield; submit: to bow to the inevitable.
3.
to bend or curve downward; stoop: the pines bowed low.
–verb (used with object)
4.
to bend or incline (the knee, body, or head) in worship, submission, respect, civility, agreement, etc.: He bowed his head to the crowd.
5.
to cause to submit; subdue; crush.
6.
to cause to stoop or incline: Age had bowed his head.
7.
to express by a bow: to bow one's thanks.
8.
to usher (someone) with a bow (usually fol. by in, out, etc.): They were bowed in by the footman.
9.
to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.
–noun
10.
an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, respect, submission, etc.
—Verb phrase
11.
bow out, to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.: He bowed out after two terms as governor.
—Idioms
12.
bow and scrape, to be excessively polite or deferential.
13.
make one's bow, to appear publicly for the first time, as a performer, politician, etc.: The young pianist made her bow last night to an appreciative audience.
14.
take a bow, to step forward or stand up in order to receive recognition, applause, etc.: The conductor had the soloists take a bow.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME bowen (v.), OE būgan; c. D buigen; akin to G biegen, Goth biugan, ON buga, etc.]
a flexible strip of wood or other material, bent by a string stretched between its ends, for shooting arrows: He drew the bow and sent the arrow to its target.
2.
an instrument resembling this, used for various purposes, as rotating a drill or spindle, or loosening entangled or matted fibers.
3.
a bend or curve.
4.
Also called bowknot.a looped knot composed of two or more loops and two ends, as for tying together the ends of a ribbon or string.
5.
any separate piece of looped, knotted, or shaped gathering of ribbon, cloth, paper, etc., used as a decoration, as on a package, dress, or the like.
6.
a long rod, originally curved but now nearly straight, with horsehairs stretched from one end to the other, used for playing on a musical instrument of the violin and viol families.
7.
a single movement of such a device over the strings of a violin, viol, or the like.
BowAudio Help (bō) Pronunciation Key
American actress whose roles in silent films, such as Mantrap (1926) and It (1927), made her a symbol of the Roaring Twenties.
O.E. bugan "to bend, to bend the body in condescension," also "to turn back" (class II strong verb; past tense beag, pp. bogen), from P.Gmc. *bugon (cf. M.L.G. bugen, O.H.G. biogan, Goth. biugan "to bend," O.N. boginn "bent"), from *beugen, from PIE base *bheugh- (cf. Skt. bhujati "bends, thrusts aside"). The noun is first recorded 1656. Bow out "withdraw" is from 1942.
"weapon," O.E. boga "archery bow, arch, rainbow," from P.Gmc. *bugon (see bow (v.)). The sense of "a looped knot" is from 1547. The musician's bow (1580) was formerly curved like the archer's. Bow-legged is attested from 1552.
"front of a ship," 1342, from O.N. bogr or M.Du. boech "bow of a ship," lit. "shoulder (of an animal)," the connecting notion being "the shoulders of the ship." See bough.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
2.
a slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments
3.
front part of a vessel or aircraft; "he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line"
4.
a weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow
5.
something curved in shape
6.
bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting
7.
an appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audience
8.
a decorative interlacing of ribbons
9.
a stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments
verb
1.
bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head; "He bowed before the King"; "She bowed her head in shame"
2.
yield to another's wish or opinion; "The government bowed to the military pressure" [syn: submit]
3.
bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting; "He bowed before the King"
4.
bend one's back forward from the waist on down; "he crouched down"; "She bowed before the Queen"; "The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse" [syn: crouch]
to bend (the head and often also the upper part of the body) forwards in greeting a person etc Example: He bowed to the ladies; They bowed their heads in prayer.
Arabic:
يَنْحَني، يَحْني
Chinese (Simplified):
鞠躬
Chinese (Traditional):
鞠躬
Czech:
poklonit se, sklánět (se)
Danish:
bukke
Dutch:
buigen
Estonian:
kummardama
Finnish:
kumartaa
French:
(s')incliner devant
German:
(sich)(ver-)beugen
Greek:
κάνω υπόκλιση
Hungarian:
meghajol
Icelandic:
hneigja sig
Indonesian:
membungkuk
Japanese:
おじぎをする
Korean:
머리를 숙이다
Latvian:
paklanīties; palocīties; palocīt galvu (sveicienam; izrādot piekrišanu); liekt; liekties
Lithuanian:
nu(si)lenkti
Norwegian:
bukke; bøye hodet
Polish:
skłonić (się)
Portuguese (Brazil):
curvar(-se)
Portuguese (Portugal):
saudar
Romanian:
a (se) apleca, a (se) înclina
Russian:
поклониться
Slovak:
pokloniť sa, skloniť (sa)
Slovenian:
prikloniti se
Spanish:
inclinar(se), hacer una reverencia
Swedish:
buga, böja
Turkish:
eğilerek selâm vermek, reverans yapmak
bow2[bau]verb
(withto) to accept Example: I bow to your superior knowledge.
Arabic:
يُذْعِنُ، يَقْبَلُ
Chinese (Simplified):
屈从
Chinese (Traditional):
接受，屈從
Czech:
sklánět se (před)
Danish:
bøje sig for
Dutch:
zich neerleggen bij
Estonian:
tunnustavalt suhtuma
Finnish:
taipua
French:
s'incliner devant
German:
sich beugen
Greek:
υποκλίνομαι (μτφ.), αναγνωρίζω
Hungarian:
meghajlik vki, vmi előtt
Icelandic:
beygja sig fyrir, láta undan
Indonesian:
menerima
Japanese:
屈伏する
Korean:
굴복하다
Latvian:
izjust dziļu cieņu; noliekties (godbijībā)
Lithuanian:
lenkti galvą prieš
Norwegian:
bøye seg for
Polish:
chylić czoło
Portuguese (Brazil):
curvar-se a
Portuguese (Portugal):
curvar-se
Romanian:
a se înclina în faţa
Russian:
преклоняться
Slovak:
skloniť sa (pred)
Slovenian:
ukloniti se
Spanish:
ceder ante, transigir con
Swedish:
böja sig för
Turkish:
boyun eğmek
bow[bau]noun
a bowing movement Example: He made a bow to the ladies.
Arabic:
إنْحِناءه
Chinese (Simplified):
鞠躬
Chinese (Traditional):
鞠躬
Czech:
úklona, poklona
Danish:
buk
Dutch:
buiging
Estonian:
kummardus
French:
salut
German:
die Verbeugung
Greek:
υπόκλιση
Hungarian:
meghajlás
Icelandic:
hneigja sig, kinka kolli
Indonesian:
memberi hormat dengan membungkuk
Japanese:
おじぎ
Korean:
인사
Latvian:
palocīšanās; paklanīšanās
Lithuanian:
nusilenkimas
Norwegian:
bukk; hodebøyning
Polish:
ukłon
Portuguese (Brazil):
inclinação
Portuguese (Portugal):
aceno
Romanian:
plecăciune
Russian:
поклон
Slovak:
poklona
Slovenian:
poklon
Spanish:
inclinación, reverencia
Swedish:
bugning
Turkish:
selâm, reverans
bow1[bəu]noun
a springy curved rod bent by a string, by which arrows are shot
Arabic:
قَوْس
Chinese (Simplified):
弓
Chinese (Traditional):
弓
Czech:
luk
Danish:
bue; flitsbue
Dutch:
boog
Estonian:
vibu
Finnish:
jousi
French:
arc
German:
der Bogen
Greek:
τόξο
Hungarian:
íj
Icelandic:
bogi
Indonesian:
busur
Japanese:
弓
Korean:
활
Latvian:
(šaujamais) loks; stops
Lithuanian:
lankas
Norwegian:
bue
Polish:
łuk
Portuguese (Brazil):
arco
Portuguese (Portugal):
arco
Romanian:
arc
Russian:
лук
Slovak:
luk
Slovenian:
lok
Swedish:
båge
Turkish:
yay
bow2[bəu]noun
a rod with horsehair stretched along it, by which the strings of a violin etc are sounded
Arabic:
قَوْسُ العَزِف
Chinese (Simplified):
琴弓
Chinese (Traditional):
琴弓
Czech:
smyčec
Danish:
bue
Dutch:
strijkstok
Estonian:
poogen
Finnish:
jousi
French:
archet
German:
der Bogen
Greek:
δοξάρι
Hungarian:
vonó
Icelandic:
(fiðlu)bogi
Indonesian:
alat penggesek biola
Japanese:
弓
Korean:
(악기) 활
Latvian:
(vijoles) lociņš
Lithuanian:
strykas
Norwegian:
bue
Polish:
smyczek
Portuguese (Brazil):
arco
Portuguese (Portugal):
arco
Romanian:
arcuş
Russian:
смычок
Slovak:
sláčik
Slovenian:
godalni lok
Spanish:
arco
Swedish:
stråke
Turkish:
yay
bow3[bəu]noun
a looped knot of material Example: Her dress is decorated with bows.
Arabic:
أُنْشوطَه
Chinese (Simplified):
蝴蝶花结
Chinese (Traditional):
蝴蝶花結
Czech:
mašle
Danish:
sløjfe
Dutch:
strik
Estonian:
lehv
Finnish:
rusetti, solmuke
French:
noeud
German:
die Schleife
Greek:
φιόγκος
Hungarian:
masni
Icelandic:
slaufa
Indonesian:
pita
Japanese:
ちょう結び
Korean:
나비 매듭
Latvian:
sasieta lente
Lithuanian:
kaspinėlis
Norwegian:
sløyfe
Polish:
kokarda
Portuguese (Brazil):
laço
Portuguese (Portugal):
laço
Romanian:
nod
Russian:
бант
Slovak:
mašľa
Slovenian:
vozel
Spanish:
arco
Swedish:
knut, rosett
Turkish:
fiyonk
bow[bəubau]noun
(often in plural) the front of a ship or boat Example: The waves broke over the bows.
Bow Mar, CO (town, FIPS 8070) Location: 39.62580 N, 105.05205 W Population (1990): 854 (304 housing units) Area: 1.8 sq km (land), 0.3 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 80123
Silver Bow County, MT (county, FIPS 93) Location: 45.89596 N, 112.65761 W Population (1990): 33941 (15474 housing units) Area: 1860.5 sq km (land), 1.7 sq km (water)
Bow, KY Zip code(s): 42714
Bow, NH Zip code(s): 03304
Bow, WA Zip code(s): 98232
Broken Bow, NE (city, FIPS 6610) Location: 41.40537 N, 99.63905 W Population (1990): 3778 (1714 housing units) Area: 4.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 68822
Broken Bow, OK (city, FIPS 9100) Location: 34.02572 N, 94.73632 W Population (1990): 3961 (1653 housing units) Area: 7.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 74728
Medicine Bow, WY (town, FIPS 51575) Location: 41.89976 N, 106.20103 W Population (1990): 389 (200 housing units) Area: 9.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 82329
Butte-Silver Bow, MT ((remainder), FIPS 11397) Location: 45.89596 N, 112.65761 W Population (1990): 33336 (15180 housing units) Area: 1854.9 sq km (land), 1.7 sq km (water)
Badge\, n. [LL. bagea, bagia, sign, prob. of German origin; cf. AS. be['a]g, be['a]h, bracelet, collar, crown, OS b?g- in comp., AS. b?gan to bow, bend, G. biegen. See Bow to bend.]1. A distinctive mark, token, sign, or cognizance, worn on the person; as, the badge of a society; the badge of a policeman. "Tax gatherers, recognized by their official badges. " --Prescott. 2. Something characteristic; a mark; a token. Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge. --Shak. 3. (Naut.) A carved ornament on the stern of a vessel, containing a window or the representation of one.
Bee\ (b[=e]), n. [AS. be['o]; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b?, Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. [root]97.]1. (Zo["o]l.) An insect of the order Hymenoptera, and family Apid[ae] (the honeybees), or family Andrenid[ae] (the solitary bees.) See Honeybee. Note: There are many genera and species. The common honeybee (Apis mellifica) lives in swarms, each of which has its own queen, its males or drones, and its very numerous workers, which are barren females. Besides the A. mellifica there are other species and varieties of honeybees, as the A. ligustica of Spain and Italy; the A. Indica of India; the A. fasciata of Egypt. The bumblebee is a species of Bombus. The tropical honeybees belong mostly to Melipoma and Trigona. 2. A neighborly gathering of people who engage in united labor for the benefit of an individual or family; as, a quilting bee; a husking bee; a raising bee. [U. S.] The cellar . . . was dug by a bee in a single day. --S. G. Goodrich. 3. pl. [Prob. fr. AS. be['a]h ring, fr. b?gan to bend. See 1st Bow.] (Naut.) Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through; -- called also bee blocks. Bee beetle (Zo["o]l.), a beetle (Trichodes apiarius) parasitic in beehives. Bee bird (Zo["o]l.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird. Bee flower (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus Ophrys (O. apifera), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects. Bee fly (Zo["o]l.), a two winged fly of the family Bombyliid[ae]. Some species, in the larval state, are parasitic upon bees. Bee garden, a garden or inclosure to set beehives in; an apiary. --Mortimer. Bee glue, a soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement the combs to the hives, and close up the cells; -- called also propolis. Bee hawk (Zo["o]l.), the honey buzzard. Bee killer (Zo["o]l.), a large two-winged fly of the family Asilid[ae] (esp. Trupanea apivora) which feeds upon the honeybee. See Robber fly. Bee louse (Zo["o]l.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect (Braula c[ae]ca) parasitic on hive bees. Bee martin (Zo["o]l.), the kingbird (Tyrannus Carolinensis) which occasionally feeds on bees. Bee moth (Zo["o]l.), a moth (Galleria cereana) whose larv[ae] feed on honeycomb, occasioning great damage in beehives. Bee wolf (Zo["o]l.), the larva of the bee beetle. See Illust. of Bee beetle. To have a bee in the head or in the bonnet. (a) To be choleric. [Obs.] (b) To be restless or uneasy. --B. Jonson. (c) To be full of fancies; to be a little crazy. "She's whiles crack-brained, and has a bee in her head." --Sir W. Scott.
Bight\ (b[imac]t), n. [OE. bi[yogh]t a bending; cf. Sw. & Dan. bugt bend, bay; fr. AS. byht, fr. b[=u]gan. [root]88. Cf. Bout, Bought a bend, and see Bow, v.]1. A corner, bend, or angle; a hollow; as, the bight of a horse's knee; the bight of an elbow. 2. (Geog.) A bend in a coast forming an open bay; as, the Bight of Benin. 3. (Naut.) The double part of a rope when folded, in distinction from the ends; that is, a round, bend, or coil not including the ends; a loop.
Bough\, n. [OE. bogh, AS. b[=o]g, b[=o]h, bough, shoulder; akin to Icel. b[=o]gr shoulder, bow of a ship, Sw. bog, Dan. bov, OHG. buog, G. bug, and to Gr.? ( for ? ) forearm, Skr. b[=a]hu (for bh[=a]ghu) arm. [root]88, 251. Cf. Bow of a ship.]1. An arm or branch of a tree, esp. a large arm or main branch. 2. A gallows. [Archaic] --Spenser.
Bought\, n. [Cf. Dan. bugt bend, turning, Icel. bug?a. Cf. Bight, Bout, and see Bow to bend.]1. A flexure; a bend; a twist; a turn; a coil, as in a rope; as the boughts of a serpent. [Obs.] --Spenser. The boughts of the fore legs. --Sir T. Browne. 2. The part of a sling that contains the stone. [Obs.]
Bow\ (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowing.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. b[=u]gan (generally v. i.); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen, Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. b["o]ja, Dan. b["o]ie, bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. ?, and Skr. bhuj to bend. [root]88. Cf. Fugitive.]1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved. We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness. --Milton. The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny. --Prescott. 2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline. Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. --Bacon. Not to bow and bias their opinions. --Fuller. 3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension. They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. --2 Kings ii. 15. 4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to crush; to subdue. Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave. --Shak. 5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.
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